The two teams of a heated rivalry in Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers find themselves headed in opposite directions. The Angels are surging lately, while the Rangers find themselves in a free-fall down the standings.
A game which will be unquestionably more intense will be the coming World Cup Final. You can see our full preview and prediction for Sunday’s match between Germany and Argentina here.
Wanting some more baseball action? Check out our MLB Free Picks for the best five baseball games to bet on for the day. In the meantime, read on for everything you’ll need to know when the Angels take on the Rangers tonight at 8:05PM ET.
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Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers, Major League Baseball, Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Globe Life Park, Arlington, Texas
When: July 5, 8:05 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Angels (-115) at Texas Rangers (+115); total 10.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels have been surging lately, winning five of their last six games. Coming into this game against the Rangers, they will need a couple of factors in their offense to come together to win them the game.
[sc:MLB240banner ]The Angels are second only to the Oakland Athletics when it comes to scoring runs. In their most recent outing they showed that they can still score late into a game, as Albert Pujols’ seventh-inning two-run homer led L.A. to a comeback over the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday.
If the Angels want to get past the Rangers, they’ll have to outperform some recent trends. Three of the team’s last four losses came on the road, and their starter Hector Santiago (0-7, 4.50 ERA) hasn’t earned a victory since August 18 of last year. Santiago gave up five runs in six innings the last time he faced the Texas Rangers.
Betting on Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers need a rebound fast as they are 1-10 in their last 11 games overall. After the 11-game stretch, Texas is now last in AL West with a winning percentage of .418, the worst in the majors.
The Rangers have a lone bright spot from their 11-game rut in Adrian Beltre who’s on a 13-game hitting streak. He has also batted .494 in his last 20 home games. The Rangers will have to rely on him in case the rest of the team continues failing to impress.
At home, Texas’ pitcher Colby Lewis (6-5, 5.51 ERA) has been of no help recently. He has given up 19 earned runs in his last five home starts, while the team has gone 1-4 in the stretch. Lewis must step up big time if he wants to help the Rangers keep their home-winning streak against the surging L.A. Angels – the Rangers have not lost to the Angels in their last eight meetings in Texas.
Writer’s Prediction
The Los Angeles Angels will take advantage of Texas’ horrible pitching. Take them at -125 as they send the Texas Rangers deeper into their hole.
