Rays, Halos Open Big Three-Game Series
It may be early, but an early postseason preview could be taking place in Anaheim. The Los Angeles Angels have surpassed expectations en route to an AL West lead, while the Tampa Bay Rays are once again in the mix for another playoff berth.
Let’s check the latest MLB picks, stats, injury reports, and MLB odds for Rays vs Angels, along with our MLB predictions.
Rays Finding Their Shine
The Tampa Bay Rays overcame a savage AL East in 2021, winning 100 games and a fourth division title. But the winning didn’t start immediately in ‘22, as the two-time pennant winners began with a 4-5 record and struggled to stay above .500 for long. A six-game winning streak snapped on Sunday has brought the Rays back to a modest two-game deficit for first place in the division.
MLB odds accurately portray the Rays as a team that’s strong both in the box and on the mound. Tampa Bay enters Monday’s game ranked sixth in batting average (.245) and runs (130) with a team era of 3.25, good for seventh in MLB. The pitching staff also has a collective 1.10 WHIP – sitting behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets.
Tampa will deploy its bullpen on Monday, starting with Jeffrey Springs. The lefty has been an effective opener in his fifth MLB season, allowing one run over 13 innings with 14 strikeouts.
Angels Getting Some Luck from the Heavens
Every year, baseball fans hear the same talking points regarding the Los Angeles Angels. Despite possessing two MVPs in their lineup, the Angels haven’t sniffed the postseason since 2014 due in large part to ineffective pitching and untimely injuries. But so far, their pitching and relatively good health have helped them get out to a 19-11 start, good for first place in the AL West.
Los Angeles has a powerful lineup, something to consider when making MLB picks. The Halos lead baseball with 139 runs and have the second-most home runs with 36. They’ve also drawn 111 walks, which leads the American League. On the mound, LA’s 3.55 ERA is 12th in baseball, but its 1.13 WHIP and .217 opponent batting average are fifth and sixth, respectively.
Noah Syndergaard, one of the Angels’ many new pitching acquisitions, is set to start Monday’s contest. Thor has looked sharp in all four of his starts, registering a 2.63 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 24 innings.
Rays vs Angels Head-to-Head
This is the first meeting between the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels in 2022. But if recent history proves anything, the Rays own the upper hand.
Tampa defeated LA six times in seven games last season, including all four games at Angel Stadium. To boot, the Rays haven’t lost a season series against the Angels since 2014, the last year the Halos made the playoffs.
Rays vs Angels Game Information
- Game: Rays (18-11) vs Angels (19-11)
- Location: Angel Stadium of Anaheim
- Day/Time: Monday, May 9, 9:38 p.m. ET
- Rays vs Angels Streaming: MLB.tv
Rays vs Angels Betting Lines
Rays vs Angels Prediction
This is arguably the most competitive game on Monday’s schedule and the latest MLB lines confirm it. The Los Angeles Angels are slight -128 favorites at home, while the Tampa Bay Rays are a reasonable +118 underdog on the road.
Even though both teams have solid pitching staffs, the odds favor a higher-scoring game. The Rays and Halos are -120 to score Over 7 ½ combined runs, the highest odds for any of today’s games with a 7 ½-run total.
Betting online for a lower-scoring contest makes more sense. Tampa is in the eighth game of a 10-game road trip, while LA’s bats had an underwhelming series against the hapless Washington Nationals.
If this game doesn’t have a lot of runs, the advantage has to go toward the Rays. They possess a top-five bullpen that should prevent the Angels from doing a ton of damage at the plate.
The sportsbook shows that it’s more profitable to take the Rays at plus money than to take the Under 7 ½ at even money. Look for Tampa to steal this matchup on the road.
