Baltimore Orioles vs. Los Angeles Angels – July 21, 2014 – Betting Preview and Prediction

After facing the no.1 team in the majors in the Oakland Athletics, the Baltimore Orioles will now start their next series against the Los Angeles Angels, owners of the second-best record in the MLB right now. Will the Orioles set the tone in the first game and beat Los Angeles on the road, or will the Angels continue to obliterate their opponents with their potent offense?

Read a detailed preview of this game below. You can also view a brief rundown of the five best baseball games to bet on today here.
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Baltimore Orioles vs. Los Angeles Angels Betting Preview

Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, California

When: Friday, July 21, 10:05 PM ET

Line: Baltimore Orioles (+128) at Los Angeles Angels (-138); total: 8.5 – view all MLB lines

Betting on the Baltimore Orioles

Although Baltimore is second in homers (19) in the majors since the start of July, the club is only ninth in runs (69) and 13th in RBIs (63). In order to capitalize on their power at the plate, the O’s need to get more men on base, a responsibility that should be filled by their top-of-the order hitters.

[sc:MLB240banner ]The O’s 1-2 combo of Nick Markakis and Steve Pearce have been disappointing thus far this month. The two are hitting a collective average of .277 – down from their season average of .303. In Baltimore’s recent game, a 10-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics, both men went hitless in seven combined at-bats.

On the mound tonight for Baltimore is Bud Norris (7-6, 3.96 ERA). Norris had a rough outing in his last start, allowing five earned runs in just four innings of duty in the O’s 6-2 loss to the Washington Nationals. Nevertheless, the Orioles have a great 4-1 record in the right-hander’s last five starts.

Norris has also consistently found success when he’s up against the Angels. While he has yet to face the Angels in a Baltimore uniform, he pitched against them four times as a member of the Houston Astros. The Astros went 4-1 in five games where Norris started against Los Angeles.

Betting on the Los Angeles Angels

Call the Angels’ 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners in the second game of their series a minor hiccup. The Angels immediately went back to winning ways with a 6-5 victory against the M’s last night. They are now 7-1 in their last eight games overall.

The Halos have become the hottest team in the majors, riding an impeccable offense that has more than made up for their mediocre pitching. Los Angeles is No. 1 in the following categories this month: runs (103), RBIs (96), batting average (.297), OBP (.357), and SLG (.453).

With Josh Hamilton finding his groove again, the Angels are bound to get even scarier at the plate.

After a 0-for-6 outing in the first game of the series against Seattle, Hamilton has gone 4-for-9 since, with three hits coming in the third game. But more than Hamilton’s return to form, the Angels’ success has a lot to do with Albert Pujols and Mike Trout.

Over the Angels’ last 25 games, wherein they went 20-5, Pujols and Trout combined for a .332 batting average (67-for-202) with 41 RBIs.

The Angels will be matching up Matt Shoemaker (7-2, 4.38 ERA) with Baltimore’s Bud Norris. Los Angeles is 4-1 in Shoemaker’s last five appearaces.

Writer’s Prediction

Bud Norris pitches well, and leads the O’s in a 4-3 win over Los Angeles. Create a betting account now and pick which of the two teams you see will end their day with a victory.
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