Angels vs. Rangers Prediction
The Arizona Diamondbacks are off to a great start to 2018 and they’ll look to continue their hot play on Monday night in San Francisco. The D-Backs will attempt to build off their successful trip to St. Louis with another win behind Zack Godley when they visit the Giants at 10:15 p.m. ET.
Game Snapshot & Odds
969 Los Angeles Angels (-130) at Texas Rangers (+119); 9 runs
Monday, April 9, 2018
8:05 p.m. ET, Globe Life Park in Arlington
TV: FSW (LAA); FSSW (TEX)
(Odds courtesy of online sportsbooks YouWager)
Public Betting Trends
As of this writing, 71% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Angels to beat the Rangers on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
New-Look Los Angeles Angels Impressive in Early Going
The new-look Angels will look to carry the momentum from the weekend into a new series against their division rivals tonight in Arlington. The 7-3 Halos won for the fourth time in five games on Sunday when they beat the A’s 6-1.
Newcomer Shohei Ohtani has been a revelation both with his arm and the bat. He pitched seven scoreless innings against Oakland and had a perfect game through 6 1/3 innings in just his second start of the season. He eventually surrendered a hit and a walk while striking out 12.
Tonight the Angels will send right-hander Garrett Richards to the mound against the Rangers. Richards was the team’s Opening Day starter and he picked up his first win of the season on April 4, allowing two earned runs, one hit, and four walks while striking out nine in 5 2/3 innings in a 13-2 blowout of the Indians.Richards has a 3.56 ERA in his 100 career starts but has thrown just 64 1/3 innings in the past two seasons due to injuries.
Texas Rangers off to a slow start in 2018
The Rangers fell 7-4 to the Blue Jays at home on Sunday as ace Cole Hamels was pounded by Toronto’s lineup. He allowed eight hits in 5 1/3 innings while striking out five and issuing two walks. He surrendered four runs in the first inning alone, as Steve Pearce and Kendrys Morlas took him deep.
Tonight the Rangers will turn to Fister, who will make his third start of the young season. He suffered his first loss in the Rangers’ 6-2 defeat on Wednesday night in Oakland after allowing five runs (two earned) and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. Despite going 3-4, Fister has been excellent versus the Angels, posting a 2.90 ERA in 13 career starts (87 innings pitched). He has allowed three runs or less in 11 of 13 career starts versus the Halos, including eight straight outings dating back to June of 2011.
MLB Betting Trends
Los Angeles
The Angels have won four of Richard’s last five road starts against the Rangers and are 8-3 in his last 11 outings versus Texas overall.
Texas
The Rangers have lost four of their last five games at home and are 0-6 in their last six games to open up a new series.
Prediction:
The Angels have not been a profitable team for bettors when Richards toes the rubber. Dating back to last season, they’re 1-5 in his last six starts overall. They’re also winless at 0-4 in his last four outings against the rest of the American League West. They’re just 1-6 in his last seven road starts when facing an opponent with a losing record, too.
As previously mentioned, Fister has carved up the Rangers in the past and it’s not as if Texas didn’t have an opportunity to come back on Sunday versus Toronto. After Hamels put them in a deep hole to start the game, the Rangers had multiple chances to tie the game or at least carve into the Jays’ lead but they just couldn’t get that one big hit in the final three frames. I’ll back them tonight on the moneyline against the hot Angels.
The Pick: Texas Rangers +119