Rays vs. Angels Prediction
Will the Los Angeles Angels bounce back from some losses to the Houston Astros when they host the Tampa Bay Rays tonight at 10:07PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
965 Tampa Bay Rays at 966 Los Angeles Angels
Thursday, May 17, 2018
10:07PM ET – Angel Stadium
TV: SUN (TB); FSW (LA)
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Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers, the Angels are favored at home tonight, as they are getting odds of -155 to win. The Rays are listed with a money line of +140 to prevail, while the over/under total has been set at 7.5 runs. The public betting currently has 65 percent of the wagers going on the Angels at home. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Rays coming off a sweep
The Rays enter this series with a little momentum after sweeping the Royals in Kansas City over the last three days. Tampa is now 19-22 overall and 11-12 on the road. The Rays are putting up 4.27 runs per game this season while allowing 4.73 per contest.
Chris Archer gets the start for the Rays tonight. He is 2-3 through nine starts with a 5.64 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Archer has pitched 52.2 innings this year and he has 52 strikeouts with 15 walks.
Angels continue to slip at home
The Angels dropped home games to the Astros over the last two nights and they have lost four of their last six to fall to 25-18 on the season and 11-14 at home. Los Angeles is scoring 4.81 runs per game in 2018 while giving up 4.09 per contest.
Tyler Skaggs takes the mound for the Angels tonight. He is 3-2 through eight starts this year and carries a 3.07 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP. Skaggs has pitched a total of 44 innings and has 46 strikeouts with 13 walks.
MLB Betting Trends
Tampa
The Rays are just 2-6 in Archer’s last eight road starts and 9-25 in his last 34 starts against a winning team.
Los Angeles
The Angels are 1-4 in Skaggs’ last five starts, but 7-3 in his last 10 starts following a loss. Los Angeles has also won four of its last five series openers.
Prediction:
The Angels have struggled at home, but their recent losses have come against teams that are actually playing quite well lately in the Astros and Twins. I think Los Angeles will be fine at home tonight against the Rays and Archer. Archer hasn’t looked good most of the season and hasn’t been able to avoid giving up multiple runs. I like the Angels to jump on him and grab a win at home.
The Pick: Los Angeles Angels -155