The Tampa Bay Rays have caused waves around the big leagues with their in-your-face style of play, which has translated to second place in the American League East. The young Rays will head to Angel Stadium on Tuesday for the second of a three-game series with the West-leading Los Angeles Angels. BetOnline.com has Los Angeles Angels –120 odds favorites against the Tampa Bay Rays +100 with the total set at 8 runs.
James Shields (4-4, 3.64) makes his return to the lineup after serving a six-game suspension for his role in a bench-clearing brawl during a 7-1 loss to the Red Sox in Boston. Shields intentionally hit Boston's Coco Crisp, who the Rays say tried to injure second baseman Akinori Iwamura in the previous game with a hard slide. Shields, who was also frustrated by a rough start in which he gave up four runs in three hits in just an inning's work. Shields will be happy to see the Angels, however, as he had his best outing of the season against them when he tossed a complete-game one-hit gem to lead the Rays to a 2-0 shutout at home.
Jered Weaver (5-6, 4.79) is starting to roll, as he won his third game in four decisions in a 5-4 victory at Seattle. The 25-year-old righthander did not have his best stuff, as he allowed four runs on ten hits over six innings, but he is making the right pitches at the right time, which gets him out of trouble. However, Weaver has now given up ten runs in his last ten innings, which will eventually catch up to him. Weaver has not faced the Rays since his rookie year in 2006, when he scattered a pair of runs on four hits over six innings to lead the Angels to a 6-2 win in Tampa Bay.
The Rays swept the Angels at home last month to announce that they were a legitimate contender in the American League, but Los Angeles is a tough team and they will not be thinking about that series. The Angels will also be eager to avenge their poor showing at the hands of Shields in their last meeting, so take Los Angeles to come away with the victory on Tuesday. Get your free MLB Pick in Now!
Tampa Bay Rays at Los Angeles Angels – 10:05 PM ET
Free MLB Pick: Los Angeles Angels
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