The Los Angeles Angels (44-59, 24-30 home) host the Oakland Athletics (39-66, 22-33 away) on Wednesday night in game two of a three-game series. Los Angeles opened up the series with a 3-1 victory and own a 6-2 record head-to-head against the A’s this season.
The first pitch of Wednesday’s tilt is at 9:38 p.m. EST at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Angels open as the betting favorite at -240, and the over-under total is seven runs.
What to Know – Oakland Athletics
Oakland had a season to forget as the team continues to flow through a rebuild. The A’s have lost three in a row and find themselves in the cellar of the American League West division.
On the hill for the visitors is right-hander James Kaprielian (2-5, 4.50 ERA, 1.29 WHIP). Kaprielian was fantastic in July, picking up a pair of victories over five starts and lowering his earned run average from 5.88 to 4.50. For the year, the 28-year-old has pitched 80.0 innings, allowing 40 earned runs on 68 hits and 35 walks while striking out 53 batters.
The A’s offense lacks starpower and is one of the worst teams in the league at scoring runs. Seth Brown leds the lineup with 15 home runs and 44 runs batting in, while Sean Murphy adds 12 home runs and 42 RBIs.
Brown has been one of the hottest hitters in the second half, hitting five home runs and batting .379 in 29 at-bats.
Oakland is last in the league, hitting .215 as a team and scoring 3.4 runs per game. The A’s pitching staff ranks 23rd in the majors with a 4.25 team ERA.
What to Know – Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles were sellers at the trade deadline, moving Noah Syndergaard, Brandon Marsh, and Raisel Inglesias on Tuesday. The Angels have struggled in 2022, sitting in fourth in the AL West and 15 games under .500.
Two-way star Shohei Ohtani (9-6, 2.81 ERA, 1.02 WHIP) aims to keep the Angels in the win column Wednesday. The 28-year-old has logged double-digit strikeout totals in six-straight outings. Ohtani has thrown 99.1 innings, surrendering 31 earned runs on 78 hits and 23 walks with 145 strikeouts.
The Angels’ offense will need to lean on the bat of Ohtani and Jared Walsh now that Marsh is out of the lineup and Mike Trout continues to mend his rib injury. Ohtani has 22 home runs and leads the Angels with 62 RBIs and 58 runs scored. Walsh provides 13 home runs and 41 RBIs.
The Angels average 3.9 runs per contest behind an offense that is 26th in the MLB, hitting .229. The pitching staff for Los Angeles sports a 3.96 ERA, 18th in the majors.
The Pick is In
The Angels traded away some pieces but kept the core of their team in tact as they continue to build around Trout and Ohtani. Kaprielian’s been excellent on the mound lately, but the lack of any resemblance of offense from the A’s lineup is a concern against Ohtani. Los Angeles deals the A’s another loss in a battle of pride between these two bottom feeders.
The Pick: Los Angeles Angels ML
