Angels vs Athletics Prediction and Betting Odds May 20
Angels vs Athletics Betting Preview and Odds
The Angels hope to turn things around after losing three straight games to the Rangers. WagerTalk MLB analyst Brian Ochsner offers his Los Angeles Angels vs Oakland Athletics betting preview for Friday, May 20, with the first pitch scheduled for 9:38pm ET / 6:38pm PT.
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| Friday, May 20 | MLB Betting Notes, Courtesy of Caesars |
|---|---|
| Moneyline: | Los Angeles Angels -170 vs Oakland Athletics +155 |
| Runline: | Angels -1.5 (+110) / Athletics +1.5 (-130) |
| Total: | 8 Runs (Over +105 / Under -125) |
| Game Time: | 10:15pm ET / 7:15pm PT |
| Where: | Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA |
| Weather: | 60 Degrees / Clear |
Angels vs Athletics Analysis
The Oakland Athletics travel to southern California to play the Los Angeles Angels for the first of a three game weekend series, with Paul Blackburn getting the start against Chase Silseth.
The Angels are glad to get back home after losing three straight in Arlington versus the Rangers. And the A’s come off a seven game homestand where they lost three of four to the Angels and two of three to the Twins.
Athletics Preview
One of the few bright spots for the Athletics has been right-hander Paul Blackburn. In seven starts he has a 4-0 record with a 1.67 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 37.2 innings, giving up five walks and one home run with 29 strikeouts.
The A’s will need good pitching because they just don’t hit very well, with a league worst OPS of .587 and anemic team average of .205.
The Oakland front office took team rebuilding to an extreme by trading away all of their best hitters. The good news is their pitching staff is middle of the pack with a 16th best ERA of 3.79, and their bullpen is solid at a 10th best ERA of 3.40.
Angels Preview
The Angels can hit the baseball really, really well with a 2nd highest OPS of .744, team batting average at .246 and 3rd best OPS against right handed pitchers of .755.
Their pitching is solid with a 7th best staff ERA of 3.43, even though they got rocked by the red-hot Rangers in Arlington for 23 runs in three games.
The Halos staff shouldn’t give up anywhere close to this many runs against the light-hitting Athletics. Starter Chase Silseth has done well in his first major league start in Oakland, dealing six scoreless innings and giving up just one hit and two walks with four strikeouts.
Angels vs Athletics Prediction
While on paper the Angels have the much better hitters and roster, I can’t quite trust them during their current mini-slump after they lost three straight on the road to Texas.
Chase Silseth is still a rookie pitcher and could have some setback games, but if he can avoid walks and home runs, he should be able to keep the A’s offense in check.
I’m not crazy about this game as far as a side goes, but the better bet looks to be the total and under 7.5 total runs scored. This is a lean and I’m not running to the window, I’d recommend you tread and bet lightly on this contest.
Prediction: Under 7.5 Total Runs Scored
Interested in placing a bet on Friday’s Angels vs Athletics American League clash? Caesars Sports is offering up to a $1,500 match bet for first-time deposits in New Jersey, West Virginia, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, New York and Louisiana.
First Pitch | MLB Betting Preview for May 20
Join Drew Martin and a rotating panel of guests for First Pitch as we break down the daily baseball slate from a betting perspective. Eight different divisional series’ kick off or continue today as races remain tight in the first half of the season. Join WagerTalk’s team of MLB betting experts every weekday at 1:45pm ET / 10:45am PT for First Pitch as we discuss the baseball betting slate.
WagerTalk Live Odds Screen
WagerTalk’s Live Odds Screen features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the MLB moneylines, run lines and betting percentages for all of Friday’s baseball games, including this Angels vs Athletics showdown, from your desktop or phone.
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Meet the Author
Brian Ochsner graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in Accounting and Agribusiness. He’s a life-long baseball fan and “numbers guy” who tolerates the Colorado Rockies (bad ownership), and is a Denver Broncos and Kansas State Wildcats fan. Along with his interest in the sports wagering industry, he enjoys eating good BBQ, reading books on marketing, finance and economics, and playing Texas Hold ‘Em poker.
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