The Los Angeles Angels picked up a nice 5-0 shutout win over visiting Oakland on Monday in their first of a three game set at Angels Park at Anaheim. Tonight (10:05 PM ET) both clubs look to pick up a win and avoid falling further behind AL West Division leaders, Texas Rangers.
Right-hander Tyler Chatwood gets the start for the Angels in this one while the Athletics counter with a right-hander of their own, Brandon McCarthy. With McCarthy and Chatwood the starters, oddsmakers list the A's as slight -112 MLB Odds favorites on the Bodog.com moneyline with a 7 1/2-run total. Angels backers are getting +102 ML odds as rare home underdogs.
If you do much betting on baseball you should know pitching is most of the game. So if you're wondering why the A's are the favored team while on the road it's because oddsmakers like good pitching too and McCarthy is the best of tonight's starters. The big Oakland righty is only 1-1 on the young season through four starts but has been stingy as his 2.10 ERA shows. McCarthy has also been a hard luck guy in that his team's offense has taken time off in games he's started. His last outing a perfect example of that when he pitched eight full frames, giving up one earned run on four hits but still got the loss.
Now, having said all of that great stuff about McCarthy doesn't mean he will get a win tonight. Actually, I love the Angels in this one getting underdog odds at home. This kid Chatwood is not exactly chopped liver. He is 1-1 in three starts this season with a very respectable 3.50 ERA, giving up seven runs, all earned on 15 hits. Of those 15 hits, three were home runs. Chatwood also has a bit of a problem of walking too many with 11.
I'm going out on a limb with my daily MLB Predictions and calling for the Angels to get a win at home in spite of their rookie starting pitcher.
