Angels vs. White Sox Pick
Can the Los Angeles Angels keep their playoff hopes alive tonight when they hit the road to face the Chicago White Sox at 8:10PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Angels are favored on the road, as they are getting odds of -150 to win. The White Sox are listed with a money line of +135 to win, while the over/under total has been set at 10 runs. The Angels have won seven straight over the White Sox, including all three meetings this season.
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The pitching matchup tonight has Ricky Nolasco (6-14, 5.06 ERA) on the mound for the Angels to face James Shields (4-7, 5.40) of the White Sox. Nolasco has allowed multiple runs in his last five starts. He has 137 strikeouts this year with 56 walks and a 1.45 WHIP. Shields has allowed three runs or more in five of his last six starts. He has 95 strikeouts this season with 51 walks and a 1.48 WHIP.
The Angels have dropped six of their last seven games, entering tonight. Those were games with the Indians and Astros for the last six. L.A. is 77-78 overall and 36-41 on the road. The Angels are 4.5 games behind the Twins for the final AL Wild Card spot. Los Angeles is scoring just 4.35 runs per game while giving up 4.37 per contest. The Angeles are being led by Mike Trout, who is hitting .309 with 29 home runs, 25 doubles, 66 RBI and 21 stolen bases. Andrelton Simmons is adding 36 doubles, 14 home runs, 68 RBI and 19 stolen bags.
The White Sox have actually won three of their last four, including a series win over the Royals at home this weekend. Chicago is now 63-92 overall and 36-41 at home. The Sox are putting up 4.41 runs per game this season while allowing 5.08 per contest. Jose Abreu is leading Chicago with 41 doubles, 31 home runs and 100 RBI. Avisail Garcia is adding 24 doubles, 18 home runs and 80 RBI.
The Angels can’t afford many more losses, but I don’t like the matchup tonight. Nolasco has a 3-8 record in his road starts with a 5.38 ERA. He is facing a Chicago team that has a little momentum and doesn’t realize it has nothing to play for. Shields has been better at home than he has been on the road and the Angels are struggling as a whole. I think Chicago will dial up the recipe to get the upset win at home.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: CHICAGO WHITE SOX +135