Upcoming Match-ups

Angels vs Athletics Odds, Picks, Predictions, and Probable Pitchers (July 20)

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in MLB Baseball

Updated Jul 19, 2021 · 7:31 PM PDT

Seth Brown and Elvis Andrus celebration
Oakland Athletics' Seth Brown (15) gets an arm-bump from teammate Elvis Andrus (17) after hitting a home run against the Cleveland Indians during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
  • The Los Angeles Angels visit the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday (July 20th) at 3:37 pm ET
  • Jose Suarez (4-2, 2.29 ERA) gets the ball for LA, while Oakland will counter with James Kaprielian (4-3, 2.90 ERA)
  • Read below for odds, analysis and a betting prediction

MLB is serving up a pair of matinee contests on Tuesday, with the most intriguing game taking place in Oakland. Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angels Angels are in town to take on the Athletics, and the forecast couldn’t be better. Clear skies and sunshine are on deck, with the first pitched scheduled for 3:37 pm ET.

Angels vs Athletics Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total
Los Angeles Angels +120 +1.5 (-150) O 9 (+100)
Oakland Athletics -140 -1.5 (+130) U 9 (-120)

Odds as of July 19th at DraftKings.

Oakland opened up as a -140 home favorite in the MLB odds, looking to take down LA for the fourth straight time. The A’s swept a three-game series versus the Angels in Los Angeles last month, scoring 22 runs in the process.

Probable Pitchers

Lefty Jose Suarez will make his third start of the season for LA, while Oakland will counter with James Kaprielian. Suarez has been working primarily out of the bullpen this year, but was moved into the rotation earlier this month. He’s responded by allowing just three runs combined in his previous two starts, and limited Seattle to three hits and one run over 5 innings, in a 7-1 victory last time out.

He’s tossed 5.1 innings versus the A’s this season, all in relief, and has been spectacular. He’s held them scoreless, scattering two hits, while striking out seven.

Suarez vs Kaprielian

Jose Suarez
VS
James Kaprielian
4-2 Record 4-3
2.29 ERA 2.90
1.19 WHIP 1.11
.209 OBA .200
2.2 SO/W Ratio 2.8

Kaprielian meanwhile, has surrendered two runs or less in nine of 11 starts, including his final outing before the All-Star break. That night, he held Texas to two runs on four hits over 5 innings, but didn’t factor into the decision.

https://twitter.com/jgroc/status/1395958036087324672

He’s faced the Angels once this season, allowing two runs over 5.2 innings of work, while striking out nine.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

Angels Batters Batting Average vs Kaprielian Athletics Batters Batting Average vs Suarez
David Fletcher .000 Mark Canha .000
Shohei Ohtani .000 Elvis Andrus .250
Jared Walsh .667 Matt Olson .500
Phil Gosselin .000 Jed Lowrie .000
Brandon Marsh .000 Mitch Moreland .000
Kurt Suzuki .000 Matt Chapman .000
Jose Iglesias .333 Ramon Laureano .000
Adam Eaton .000 Sean Murphy .000
Jack Mayfield .000 Tony Kemp .500

The LA batters who’ve faced Kaprielian did not fare well outside of Jared Walsh, but the Angels lineup will look much differently on Tuesday then when they last faced him. That’s because all three of Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon and Justin Upton will miss the game due to injury, meaning Los Angeles will be down three of its top six hitters.

Also of note, David Fletcher’s hitting streak has finally been snapped. The 26-gamer he was riding was halted on Sunday in Seattle, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s crushed A’s pitching in 2021. He’s 14-for-32 against Oakland pitchers (.438), which is his second best mark against any team in the league.

Ohtani has hit two of his 34 home runs against Oakland this season, while Walsh has taken A’s pitchers deep four times.

On the other side of the diamond, Ramon Laureano is batting .348 against Angel pitching this season, and both he and Matt Olson have a pair of home runs versus LA.

Angels vs Athletics Pick

The Los Angeles Angels have had no problems scoring runs this season, preventing them has been the problem. The Halos rank sixth in runs per game through 92 contests, yet entered the week having conceded the fourth most runs in baseball.

Oakland is certainly no offensive juggernaut, ranking below league average in runs per game, but have performed well offensively against the Angels. The A’s are averaging 5.1 runs per game versus their division rival, and are 7-3 against them in 10 contests.

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Sure, Suarez has pitched well this season, but he’s never made it out of the 5th inning in 19 career starts. A short outing could prove costly against the A’s, as Los Angeles relievers have allowed the fifth most runs in baseball, and boast the league’s fifth highest WHIP.

Pick: Oakland Athletics Moneyline (-140)

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