Padres vs Phillies MLB Betting + Handicapping Picks
The Halos will no doubt be happy to be back in Anaheim after getting bombed in Texas, giving up 25 runs in three games against the Rangers to end a woeful 3-3 six-game road trip.
OAK: T. Ross (1-3, 7.71 ERA) vs. LAL: D. Haren (1-3, 4.19 ERA)
Date/Time: Monday, May 14 – 10:05 PM EST
Venue: Angels Stadium, Anaheim, California
Broadcast: CSN (Oakland) Fox Sports West (Anaheim)
LINE: Angels -200
TOTAL: 7
They will now face off against the Oakland A’s in the first of a pair of two-games series on Monday, before heading back out on the road for 10 straight away from the Big A.
The Athletics (18-17) meanwhile, will try to remain above .500 after falling to Detroit on Sunday.
Oakland has lost three of its last five games after winning five of six, and now finds itself five games behind first-place Texas in the AL West.
The A’s have labored at the plate and are batting a collective .218–25th overall, while scratching across just 3.4 runs per game.
They are however ranked 9th in home runs, thanks to outfielder Josh Reddick who has been red-hot for the A’s, and is now batting .333 with four home runs and nine RBIs over his last nine contests.
Something 31-year old righty Dan Haren will look to reverse as he heads to the mound for the Angels in the opener against his former team.
Haren, would love to replicate his last outing against Oakland where he gave up just a single home run and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. He is currently 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts this month after going 1-1 with a 3.34 ERA in his first five outings while dealing with lower-back stiffness.
He is 2-2 with a 3.45 ERA in seven starts against the Athletics, and will once again start opposite of 25-year old right-hander Tyson Ross who is coming off a trio of dismal outings, losing his third consecutive start. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
Ross surrendered just two runs over six innings during last month’s game in Anaheim after being called up from Triple-A Sacramento.
However, in three career outings versus the Angels, he’s gone 0-1 with a 2.61 ERA.
But if the A’s can mount some offense, they could help Ross notch his first win in Anaheim over an Angles (15-20) team that at present occupy the basement in the AL West, sitting eight games behind the Rangers.
That hope could be bolstered by the return of Brandon Inge who has four home runs and 16 RBIs over his last six games.
Matt’s Free Prediction: Anaheim- Despite getting pounded by the Rangers who are freakishly dominant at the plate, the Angles have played better as of late, going 7-5 to reach the midway point in May.
