The Cleveland Guardians (7-11) and Los Angeles Angels (12-7) close out their 4-game series Thursday at 4:07 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Guardians vs. Angels odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Los Angeles leads 3-0 and has outscored Cleveland 16-6.
Cleveland was swept in New York last weekend, and with 3 straight losses to L.A. in this series, has now lost 6 in a row. An offense that bolted quickly from the gate with favorable ball-in-play rates has sputtered over the losing skid. The Guardians have scored 2.17 runs per game on a .558 OPS in the 6 straight losses.
Los Angeles has come on strong with the bats of late. They are 11-4, averaging 5.67 runs per game with a .806 OPS in their last 15 games.
Guardians at Angels projected starters
RHP Cal Quantrill vs. LHP Reid Detmers
Quantrill (1-0, 3.94 ERA) is lined up for start No. 4 this season. He has a 1.19 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9 and 3.4 K/9 through 16 IP.
- Has walked 6 batters over 11 IP in his last 2 starts.
- Clocked a 2.89 ERA in 149 2/3 IP last season.
- Faced Los Angeles once last season (Aug. 22) and tossed 7 shutout frames, allowing just 2 hits and 2 BB while striking out 9.
Detmers (0-1, 6.57 ERA) makes his fourth start. He has a 1.30 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9 and 8.8 K/9 through 12 1/3 IP.
- Roughed up by Cleveland in a start last Aug. 21: 3R on 10 base runners in 3 2/3 IP.
- Notched a 7.40 ERA in 20 2/3 IP in 2021.
Guardians at Angels odds and lines
- Money line: Guardians +125 (bet $100 to win $125) | Angels -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Guardians +1.5 (-165) | Angels -1.5 (+133)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -107)
Guardians at Angels picks and predictions
Prediction
Angels 6, Guardians 4
Money line
Quantrill has skated by on a .220 batting average on balls in play so far. The Angels are a lean, but the best value — even with the added risk of seeking a multi-run win — can be found on the run line. PASS.
Run line/Against the spread
Three games into this series, the Los Angeles bullpen is still in decent shape. Quantrill is pretty solidly in the fade-for-a-while category. Detmers is a prospect that had a good spring and one that figures to have upside not showing in his surface numbers.
The fade-Cleveland’s-offense luster has mostly worn off, but there is just enough leverage in the ANGELS -1.5 (+133) line to warrant a partial-unit play.
Over/Under
The road-weary Guardians finally cobbled together some offense Wednesday night. They had 5R and 11H in the loss.
With this pitching match-up and a (forecasted) breeze-blowing-out day game, an evenly priced Over 8.5 would be worth a play Thursday. PASS on this tag, but keep an eye on the line.