New York Yankees (70-54) -145, o/u 9 at Los Angeles Angels (71-54), 10:05 Eastern Monday, ESPN2
by Zman of Predictem.com
One team trying to chase down first place in its division, the New York Yankees, pays a visit on another team trying to hold on to first place, the Los Angeles Angels, in the opener of a three-game series Monday night in Anaheim.
After taking three of four games from the Detroit Tigers over the weekend, New York now trails the Boston Red Sox by four games in the AL East and the Seattle Mariners by a half-game in the AL wild-card race.
Los Angeles, which just capped off a 3-4 road trip by splitting four games with the Red Sox in Boston, now leads the AL West by just two games over second-place Seattle.
The Angels lead the season series with the Pinstripes four games to two, with the o/u going 3-3. Last year, L.A. took the series with New York six games to four, with the o/u going 5-5.
The Angels own the best home record in the majors so far this season at 40-17, while the Yankees are just 29-30 on the road. Also, New York is 66-48 when favored this year, while Los Angeles is 10-14 as an underdog.
Two rookies take the hill Monday night when Phil Hughes starts for the Yanks vs. Dustin Moseley for the Angels. Hughes has made two decent starts in a row, allowing three ER and 13 baserunners in 11 IP. Moseley, meanwhile, has coughed up 20 ER over his last 22 1/3 innings of work.
New York is 3-2 in Hughes’ starts this year, while Los Angeles is 2-4 in Moseley’s starts.
And neither pitcher has ever started a regular season game vs. Monday’s opponents.
The Yankees lead the majors this season in both team OBP, .366, and scoring, at 5.9 runs per game.
The Angels are tied for seventh in the league in team OBP at .340, and are averaging 5.0 RPG.
The New York bullpen has been great lately, holding foes to just four ER and 11 baserunners over its last 16 IP.
On the other hand, the L.A. pen has been lousy lately, giving up 11 ER and 26 baserunners in its last 13 2/3 innings of work.
The o/u is 57-56 in New York games this season, 56-60 in Los Angeles games, and 28-27 at Angel Stadium. Most baseball sportsbooks are carrying this game with NYY being the favorite at -140 to -145.
The Predictem Pick: Take the Angels at +130.
