The Angels look to continue the momentum of a first half run that vaulted them into first place in the AL West at the All-Star break. The Halos won seven of nine games scoring 65 runs and send Garrett Richards, who is 5-1 at Angel Stadium this season, to battle the Sox.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The Red Sox never envisioned they’d be a last place team this season, and they still don’t. Even with wins in 10 of 15 games prior to the All-Star break the Sox are bringing up the rear of the AL East, 6.5 games behind the Yankees. Boston is closer to first than any last place team in the majors and their recent stretch has them believing they can make significant strides. The Sox won two of three games against LA when the clubs met in Boston in late May, scoring 19 runs in the set and they got to Garrett Richards in the game they lost.
Closing out the first half winning seven of nine on the road, the Angels climbed into the top spot in the AL West. LA averaged 7.2 runs over that span, which included a shutout loss, and scored in double figures four times; a remarkable feat for a team that averages slightly better than four runs during the season. The Angels have had plenty of success at home with Garrett Richards on the hill, winning his last three starts and six of seven overall this season.
PITCHING MATCHUP
After enduring one of the most prolonged slumps of his career, Rick Porcello (5-9, 5.90 ERA) was strong in his last start before the break, giving up eight hits and two runs over six innings in a win over the Marlins. It was his first victory since May 16, ending a string of seven losses and a ND. It’s been a rough first campaign in Boston for Porcello, who takes a 1-5 record and 7.16 ERA in nine road starts into Anaheim.
Porcello was tagged for seven hits and seven runs in a 12-5 loss to the Angels on May 22 and sports a lofty 7.07 ERA and 1.59 WHIP in 12 lifetime starts against them.
Garrett Richards (9-6, 3.53 ERA) struggled with his command in a loss at Seattle on July 9, surrendering 12 hits and four runs over 5.1 innings. It was a rare off night for the righty who entered that game 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA in his previous five starts. He’s been good at Angel Stadium, posting a 5-1 record and 2.25 ERA in seven starts.
Richards got the win over Porcello and the Sox on May 23 giving up nine hits and five runs in six innings.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“It was like, when are we going to turn this thing around? I know our offense wasn’t clicking all year long, but I kept saying, it’ll happen. You can’t force stuff. It’ll happen, because we know that we have the ballclub to do that; we know that we have the talent.” – Angels’ Albert Pujols
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
The Angels’ surge to end the first half of the season came on the heels of general manager Jerry Dipoto’s sudden resignation. Was it coincidence or timing? Whatever the reason, the Halos won seven of nine games before the break, turning a five-game deficit behind the Astros into a half-game cushion in the span of 10 days. The Angels finished the month of June ranked 22nd in the Majors in OPS and 23rd in runs per game, a major reason why they sported a .500 record on 18 separate occasions. Over that season-changing nine-game stretch from July 3-12, while playing in Arlington, Colorado and Seattle, the halos plated 65 runs – more than they scored over their previous 19 games.
PROP TALK
Mike Napoli is experiencing the worst of his 10 years in the big leagues, hitting just .193 at the All-Star break. A good start to the second half would be a boost for Boston’s first baseman and the club if he can find his stroke. Napoli has enjoyed plenty of success against the team that drafted him in 2000, hitting .333 with 18 home runs and 36 RBIs in 47 career games against the Angels. He’s also feasted off Garrett Richards over his career hitting .556 with two homers and a 2.026 OPS in nine at-bats against the Halos’ righty. Napoli isn’t a great hitter, but he is better than his 2015 numbers and facing Richards could get him on a nice run to start the second half.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Red Sox have too many holes in their rotation to make a serious run in the AL East and things got worse when Clay Buchholz was sent to the disabled list. Rick Porcello has regressed and isn’t near the ace the club thought when dealing for him in the offseason. The Sox need starting pitching and a deal at the deadline must be made for them to entertain any chance of getting to the top of the division. Garrett Richards has been nasty at home and the Angels’ bats have awoken from a season-long slumber.
Los Angeles 8, Boston 3
The MLB lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker Sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every half inning with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen in the next at-bat or how many runs will be scored in the next inning. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Boston Red Sox versus the Los Angeles Angels will commence Saturday, July 18, 2015, at 9:05 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. You can watch the contest live on the MLB Network.
