Toronto Blue Jays vs. Los Angeles Angels: Odds, Prediction
Toronto is a very short favourite on the MLB odds for the opener with a total of nine runs.
Betting Analysis
The Colorado Rockies are the worst-run team in Major League Baseball right now, but the Los Angeles Angels aren’t far behind. How did a team with generational talents in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani not reach the postseason once with those two future Hall of Famers? Of course, Ohtani left that sinking ship after the 2023 season for the Dodgers and that proved a very wise move as Ohtani won his third career league MVP Award last year and first World Series ring.
Trout, a three-time MVP himself, just can’t stay healthy and he’s back on the injured list yet again – this time with a bone bruise in his left knee. The 33-year-old has played more than 82 games just once this decade and just 29 games last season before tearing the meniscus in his surgically repaired left knee and sitting out the rest of the year. Trout still has plenty of power with nine homers in 29 games this year but was batting just .179.
The Angels most surely will finish last in the AL West yet again. And yet again, their farm system is one of the worst in the majors. It’s tough to keep having such a bad system when you are drafting relatively high each year. L.A. hasn’t finished with a winning record since 2014, which remains Trout’s only postseason appearance. It’s just a bad organization.
Toronto won all three games in Anaheim last year on the way to the seven-game series sweep – the first-ever sweep of the season series by either team. The Angels visit Rogers Centre from July 4-6.
Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto finished a six-game homestand at 3-3 following Sunday’s second straight loss to Cleveland, 5-4. The Blue Jays’ bullpen was a big reason in both those defeats as that group allowed five combined runs in the eighth and ninth innings vs. the Guardians on Saturday and then another run in the ninth on Sunday.
Outfielder Daulton Varsho was a late scratch Sunday with lower-back tightness but is likely to be ready Tuesday. Addison Barger seems to be a regular for John Schneider these days despite hitting only .139 as he made a fifth straight start Sunday. Ernie Clement seems to be the guy losing the most playing time to Barger. The Jays remain last in the majors in homers with 23.
Toronto hasn’t officially announced its starting pitcher for Tuesday as of publication, but it’s expected to be lefty Eric Lauer (0-0, 4.50). The 29-year-old made his Blue Jays and American League debut on April 30 at home vs. Boston and allowed two runs and three hits over four innings of a no-decision – throwing 77 pitches. Because Lauer had spent his career in the NL, he has never faced the Angels. But Jorge Soler is 1-for-4 off him with a solo homer. The under is 5-1 in Toronto’s past six on the road.
Los Angeles Angels
The Angels have one win in their past nine after a 13-1 home loss to Detroit on Sunday to close that series. This is not a good lineup at full health and certainly one of MLB’s worst when Mike Trout is out injured as he currently is. Third baseman Yoan Moncada is also on the IL. Los Angeles is batting a collective .214 on the season, better than only Colorado. The Angels have scored at least five runs just twice in their last 21 games.
Veteran lefty Tyler Anderson (2-0, 2.67 ERA), a likely trade candidate this summer, is scheduled on the mound Tuesday. There’s just no need for a team this bad to hang onto a 35-year-old pitcher past the trade deadline. Anderson hasn’t allowed more than three earned in any of six outings and the past three have been quality. He is 0-3 with a with a 5.53 ERA in five career starts vs. Toronto. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 6-for-11 career off him with two doubles. Ernie Clement is 2-for-6 with a double and triple. The Angels are 2-5 in their past seven at home.
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