The Atlanta Braves are essentially performing to expectations this season but they can\u2019t afford to slip with the National League West producing stiff Wildcard competition for them. <\/p>\n
Bet On Baseball \u2013 Angels vs. Yankees Preview & Pick<\/strong> Los Angeles Angels (63-52)<\/strong> The Angels were supposed to fall out of the American League West race and hand the division to Texas, weren\u2019t they? The Halos just won\u2019t die. They haven\u2019t been perfect but they\u2019re still finding ways to win more often than not.<\/p>\n For the most part, L.A. has done it with pitching. Dan Haren has seen his ERA jump a run from the first half (2.61) to post-break (3.57), as we see with him every season, but even a tiring Haren is better than most pitchers. It\u2019s worth noting that facing the Yankees doesn\u2019t seem to faze him at all. He\u2019s never pitched at New Yankee Stadium but was 3-0 with a 3.15 ERA in at Old Yankee Stadium.<\/p>\n The Angels\u2019 bats have fallen short this season but rookie Mark Trumbo deserves a special tip of the cap. He continues to show great power, leading all rookies with 22 homers, and has driven in 15 runs in his last 10 games.<\/p>\n New York Yankees (69-44)<\/strong> The New York Yankees have a strong grip on at least the American League Wildcard spot and generally feel good about themselves these days. But that doesn\u2019t mean there\u2019s nothing to worry about \u2013 especially after they dropped the last two games of their weekend series with the Boston Red Sox. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n The Yankees have the seventh-best team ERA in baseball but most experts and pundits still wonder if any arm aside from C.C. Sabathia\u2019s will hold up come playoff time. One guy the Bronx Bombers desperately need to bounce back: Phil Hughes. He hasn\u2019t fixed his problems and, after he appeared in relief against Boston on Sunday, it now looks like Ivan Nova will take his start on Tuesday.<\/p>\n For all the fanfare Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia have gotten, Nova has been just as much of an unsung hero for New York, allowing two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five outings.<\/p>\n Under is 6-2 in LAA last 8 overall. As effective as Nova has been, he hasn\u2019t been half as good at home as he has on the road. He\u2019s allowed twice as many runs, walked twice as many batters and allowed 90 per cent of his homers at Yankee Stadium. <\/p>\n Given Haren\u2019s excellent track record pitching in the Bronx, I think the Halos can steal one on the road.<\/p>\n
\nDate: <\/strong>Tuesday, August 9, 2011
\nVenue: <\/strong>Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>FSW, WWOR
\nLos Angeles Angels at New York Yankees Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: Yankees -114<\/strong>
\nOver\/Under: 8.5<\/strong>
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\nDan Haren (12-6, 2.81)<\/p>\n
\nIvan Nova (10-4, 3.81)<\/p>\nMLB Trends<\/h3>\n
\nUnder is 6-2 in LAA last 8 on grass.
\nLAA are 27-13 in their last 40 overall.
\nUnder is 5-2-1 in NYY last 8 overall.
\nUnder is 5-2-1 in NYY last 8 on grass.
\nNYY are 38-17 in their last 55 games on grass.
\nLAA are 3-11 in the last 14 meetings in New York.<\/p>\nMLB Free pick: <\/h3>\n