Tampa Bay Rays vs Los Angeles Angels Predictions, Odds, Picks

• Pair of Veterans square off on the mound
• Which elite offense has the edge in game one?
• X-factors to watch

Rays vs Angels Odds

Rays at Angels Prediction and Picks

The Angels come into play having won four of their past five games, after walking off Washington on Sunday. Now, they have their newest addition in Noah Syndergaard on the mound, though they’re just 2-2 in his outings this season. Meanwhile, the Rays lost their only game of the week on Sunday, 2-1, when the Mariners walked them off. These are two of the best teams not just in the American League, but in baseball, so it should be a tight contest. Because of that, we will take a value and go with the Tampa Bay Moneyline.

Pick:

Tampa Bay Rays Moneyline

Rays at Angels Betting Trends to Watch (As of 5.8)

• Rays are 6-1 in their last 7 overall
• Rays are 8-1 in their last 9 vs. American League West
• Rays are 8-1 in their last 9 road games
• Rays are 6-1 in their last 7 road games with the total set at 7.0-8.5
• Over is 5-2-2 in Rays last 9 overall
• Over is 4-1-2 in Rays last 7 Monday games
• Rays are 32-11 in the last 43 meetings in Los Angeles
• Rays are 20-6 in the last 26 head-to-head meetings
• Over is 9-3-1 in the last 13 meetings
• Angels are 6-1 in their last 7 games as a home favorite
• Angels are 8-2 in their last 10 games with the total set at 7.0-8.5
• Angels are 11-4 in their last 15 overall
• Under is 5-1 in Angels last 6 home games with the total set at 7.0-8.5
• Under is 9-3-1 in Angels last 13 home games
• Over is 7-3-2 in Angels last 12 vs. American League East

Garcia’s 2021 record: (11-6)

Battle of the Veterans on the Mound

He’s 36-years-old, but Corey Kluber (at least to start the season) has turned back the clock on his career and is off to a phenomenal start. Through five outings, Kluber is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in 26.2 innings.

He’s been at his best of late, throwing consecutive quality starts. Over his past two outings, Kluber has given up just one run on four hits, walking only one batter while striking out 13. In four of his five outings, Kluber has given up two runs or fewer.

Meanwhile, in his first season outside of New York, Noah Syndegaard has been impressive through his four outings. In those appearances, the 29-year-old is 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 14 strikeouts in 24 innings.

He’s yet to give up more than three runs in any outings, though he did give up a season-high eight hits in seven innings in his last start, a 4-0 loss to Boston.

Elite Offenses Set to Battle

The Angels have scored 144 runs this season, that’s the most in all of baseball. The Rays, who have played one less game than L.A., have scored 130 runs which is the third most in the American League.

Needless to say, both offenses can put up runs in bunches. The Angels enter the game with a ton of momentum, after scoring three in the bottom of the ninth on Sunday to come back and beat the Nationals 5-4 and have now scored five runs or more in seven of their past 12 games.

Los Angeles has eight different people who have an OBP better than .300, five of whom have a .260 average or better.

Their hottest hitter has been Jared Walsh, the outfielder who is 8-for-27 (.296) the last week with three home runs and nine RBIs.

The Rays also have seven batters who have a .316 OBP or better and their eighth best is at .299. Five different batters have driven in 10 runs or more and five batters have a batting average better than .300, which is what makes this lineup so tough to navigate.

Manuel Margot might be the hottest hitter in the league – he’s 11-for-25 (.440) over the past week with two home runs, an MLB leading 12 RBIs and a 1.302 OPS.

X-factors to Watch

For Los Angeles, we’re going to single out one of the hottest hitters in baseball this season, Taylor Ward. Ward is second in baseball with a .364 batting average and leads baseball with a 1.165 OPS and comes off a 6-for-22 week with one double and one home run.

For Tampa Bay, Brandon Lowe has been on a tear over the past seven days. He’s 7-for-19 (.368) with six runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and three RBIs.

How to Watch Rays at Angels