The winning streak continues for the Los Angeles Angels (28-24), as they extended their unbeaten run to five games after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays (26-26) Monday, 7-3. With ace Chris Archer taking the mound for the second game of this series, will the Rays bounce back and sting LA? Or will the Angels start the month of June with back-to-back victories?
Speaking of Tampa Bay, the Lightning are all set to host Game 1 of the 2015 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks. You can read a preview of that game here.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim
When: Tuesday, June 2, 10:05 PM ET
Line: Tampa Bay Rays (+102) vs. Los Angeles Angels (-112); total: 7.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Tampa Bay Rays
[sc:MLB240banner ]Enjoying his best season thus far in his three-year career, Chris Archer (5-4, 2.12 ERA) steps on the mound later tonight, looking to remain undefeated in five starts. Archer was sensational in his last start, tossing eight scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out 12 batters, albeit in a 3-0 loss to the Mariners on May 27. Archer will give it a go again against the Angels, whom he has beaten twice last season. Back in 2014, Archer compiled a 2-0 record and a 2.31 ERA in two starts against LA.
With Archer pitching at an elite level these days, the Rays can’t afford to waste his presence on the mound by being unproductive at the plate just like in the Seattle game. Archer is getting an average of just 3.18 run support per nine innings thus far this season, fourth lowest among AL starters with at least 60 innings logged in.
Joey Butler is among the hitters Tampa is counting on later tonight, as the designated hitter is batting .417 over his last six games. Evan Longoria, meanwhile, is hitting .238 during the same stretch. Tampa Bay has won two of its last three meetings with Wilson starting for the opposing team.
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Betting on the Los Angeles Angels
C.J. Wilson (3-3, 3.18 ERA) made sure that he wouldn’t finish May on a sour note as he helped the Halos win in his last start, a crushing 12-2 victory over Detroit on May 28. Backed by a robust offense, Wilson allowed just an earned run on two hits over six innings, while also striking out seven Tigers in that game. On the heels of that victory, Wilson eyes back-to-back wins when he faces the Rays later tonight. The Angels are 8-2 in Wilson’s last 10 home starts.
Wilson has had success in the past against Tampa Bay hitters, as evidenced by the .194 BA of current Rays against the Angels lefty. Tampa Bay’s RBI leader Evan Longoria is just 5-for-24 (.208) in the matchup, while David DeJesus (.333 this season) is 2-for-17 (.118).
Wilson has been receiving a lot of help from the offense last May, wherein he went 2-1 with a 3.23 ERA and a high 5.54 RS/9. Wilson hopes that the Angels’ offense continue to show up in tonight’s matchup with Tampa Bay. He might get it from the likes of Albert Pujols and Mike Trout, who both have good lines against Archer, although in limited at-bats. Pujols is 3-for-6 (.500) against Archer, while Trout is 4-for-9 (.444).
Writer’s Prediction
LA (-112) wins, 6-3.
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