MLB Odds: Angels-Rangers prediction, odds, pick and more

The Los Angeles Angels will take on the Texas Rangers on Friday night. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make an Angels-Rangers prediction and pick.

Unsurprisingly, the Angels’ season did not begin well. They faced the Houston Astros in a four-game series, and they predictably dropped three of those contests. However, Los Angeles did manage to follow up that lackluster start with a couple of wins against the Miami Marlins and a loss in the series opener against the Rangers. Texas is yet to have any degree of success, as they dropped four of their first five games. They’ll look to build on the momentum of a series-opening win against the Angels in this one as they take on their division rival for the first time this year.

Here are the Angels-Rangers MLB odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Angels-Rangers Odds

Los Angeles Angels: -1.5 (+138) ML: (-112)

Texas Rangers: +1.5 (-166) ML: (-104)

Over: 10 (-106)

Under: 10 (-114)

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Why The Angels Could Cover The Spread

The Los Angeles lineup should fare better than usual in this matchup. The Rangers are set to deploy Matt Bush to the mound in this game, which likely means that Texas will be pitching a bullpen game. Bullpen games are always hard to pitch, as relying on a plethora of different relievers to get through all nine innings is far less reliable than the typical method of pitching. It also helps that Bush hasn’t pitched significant innings since the 2018 MLB season. Expect Bush to come out rusty and the Angels to capitalize.

While the season is still young, the Rangers have had some trouble hitting at home thus far. Texas hitters are only batting .194 with a .299 OBP and a horrific .254 slugging percentage at the plate throughout their two games at home. The sample size is obviously tiny, but there’s a huge difference between their road and home hitting stats. It’s worth taking note of as the Angels had into this matchup.

Why The Rangers Could Cover The Spread

Despite their poor hitting stats at home, there’s reason to believe the Rangers will have some offensive success here. They’ll be facing Angels lefty, Reid Detmers, someone who hasn’t had all that much success in the big leagues. Detmers earned a 7.40 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP over 20 innings in the 2021 season, two truly awful numbers. In his first game in 2022, he gave up two runs over four innings. It also helps that Detmers is left-handed. The Rangers have killed lefties this season, earning a .292 average and a .327 OBP against them.

It’s entirely possible that the Texas bullpen pitches well here. The Angels have been absolutely awful offensively, hitting an abysmal .217 over their first seven contests. In three of their four games against the Astros, Los Angeles scored two runs or less. That’s a high standard to keep this Texas pitching staff to, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Angels limited to four runs or less in this contest.

Final Angels-Rangers Prediction & Pick

This game will probably be close, but the Rangers should take home the victory. Detmers has proven himself to be an unreliable pitcher, and it doesn’t help that he’s left-handed. Take the Rangers to win this outright.

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Final Angels-Rangers Prediction & Pick: Texas Rangers ML: (-104)