MLB Predictions Preview …The best two teams in the American League get together for the second straight day as the Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Angels get together at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., The Rays will send right hander James Shields to the mound looking to get the Rays a second straight win. Shields has a 3.75 ERA to go along with a 10-7 record this season. Right hander Ervin Santana will be the starting pitcher for the Angels in this game. Santana is 13-5 this season with a 3.49 ERA.
MLB Predictions Betting Line … Oddsmakers at online sports gaming giant Bodog (Bodoglife.com) currently have the Rays listed as -110 money line favorites versus the Angels, while the game's total is sitting at 8. The Angels are getting EVEN odds as the underdog.
Shields received a no-decision Thursday afternoon at Oakland when he allowed four runs on five hits in five innings. Uncharacteristic of Shields' outing were the five walks. The 26-year-old right-hander's best pitch has always been his changeup, but he also has a plus fastball and curve and he's added a cutter that has helped him throw inside to left-handers. He is 3-2 with a 3.40 ERA in six career starts against the Angels. In 38 career starts at Tropicana Field, Shields is 17-7 with a 3.18 ERA.
Santana gave up three earned runs in 6 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts and one walk on Wednesday night against the Mariners. He has yielded only eight walks while striking out 45 hitters in his past six outings, covering 40 1/3 innings. He seems to be getting stronger as the season heads toward the stretch. Santana is 3-3 in seven career outings against the Rays, with a 6.21 ERA. They reached him for nine hits and five runs in 5 2/3 innings earlier this year in a no-decision at Tropicana Field.
Cliff Floyd and Eric Hinske were each 2-for-3 with two-run homers to lead the Rays over the Angels 6-4 on Monday night.
Tampa Bay won as -130 home favorites as the teams played over the 9.5-run total listed by sportsbooks.
Winning pitcher Andy Sonnanstine allowed three runs over 5 1-3 innings for the Rays, while Willy Aybar went 3-for-4 for Tampa Bay.
Juan Rivera had a big fly and two runs batted in for Los Angeles, as Jon Garland gave up four earned runs over six innings to take the loss for the Angels.
MLB Prediction …Tampa Bay -110
