The Los Angeles Angels will be challenged when the Seattle Mariners roll into Anaheim looking to narrow the gap in the American League West standings before the 2011 All-Star Game. Seattle currently sits in third place, but only a game and a half separate them from the second place Angels while the distance from first to third is three and a half. Seattle and LA are set to play four games beginning with the series opener Thursday (10:05 pm ET) so it will be interesting to see what the standings look like on Monday. Meanwhile, down in Arlington, the Rangers will be hosting the Athletics for four games.
Toeing the rubber for LA in Thursday's opener is ace right-hander Jared Weaver while right-hander Doug Fister counters for Seattle. Thursday's betting line, based on Fister and Weaver as starting pitchers, odds makers at most offshore sports shops list the Angels as -190 MLB Odds favorites on the BetUS.com.pa money line with a posted total of 6-runs. Mariners backers will be getting +160 odds as ML underdogs. Run-line bettors will be getting +125 at -1 1/2 while M's RL bettors are giving -145 at +1 1/2.
With a strong showing in this starting role, Weaver hopes for the win of course but looks to make a strong case to be the American League's starter in Tuesday's All-Star game. Weaver is the league ERA leader at 1.92 and owns the second best record at 10-4.
[Angels right-hander Jared Weaver , who's league leading 1.92 ERA and 10-4 record, is making a strong case to be the starting pitcher in Tuesday's MLB All-Star game.]
Doug Fister is a good pitcher who's been Seattle's hard luck guy in 2011. His 3.02 ERA is 14th best in the AL, his 3-9 record stinks up his resume. Of course who would win with as little of run support as he's had. In nine losses, Fister’s received eight runs of support. In his last outing, he was a 1-0 loser to the Padres. With his low ERA, his fortunes are sure to turn around.
Odds makers list the Angels as -190 MLB Odds favorites to win this four game series with Seattle while installing 20 1/2 as the OVER/UNDER betting total. Mariners’ backers will be getting +155 as series underdogs.
