Upcoming Match-ups

Angels vs Rangers Odds, Betting Lines, and Probable Pitchers (August 5)

John Perrotto

by John Perrotto in MLB Baseball

Updated Aug 4, 2021 · 10:38 PM PDT

Shohei Ohtani running to first base
Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani runs to first as he lines out during the sixth inning of an Opening Day baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Thursday, April 1, 2021, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
  • The Los Angeles Angels are -120 road favorites over the Texas Rangers on Thursday at Globe Life Field in Arlington
  • Dylan Bundy (1-8, 6.66) will pitch for Angels against newly acquired rookie Spencer Howard (0-2, 5.72)
  • The odds and pitching matchup can be found below along with a prediction.

The visiting Los Angeles Angels square off with the Texas Rangers and the newest member of their starting rotation at 2:05 pm ET Thursday in the finale of a four-game series at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

The Angels (54-54 overall, 24-28 road) had lost four of their last six games before winning two in a row from the Rangers on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Angels are at .500 for the 20th time this season.

The Rangers (39-69 overall, 26-29 road) had won three in a row prior to the series.

Angels vs Rangers Odds

Team Moneyline Runline Total
Los Angeles Angels -120 -1.5 (+130) Over 9 (-120)
Texas Rangers +100 +1.5 (+150) Under 9 (-100)

Odds as of August 4th at DraftKings.

The opening moneyline had the Angels favored at -115 and has jumped ever so slightly.

Probable Pitchers

Rookie Spencer Howard (0-2, 5.72) will make his Rangers debut, facing fellow right-hander Dylan Bundy (1-8, 6.66).

The Rangers acquired Howard from the Philadelphia Phillies last Friday in a six-player deal at the MLB trade deadline. He takes the rotation spot of All-Star Kyle Gibson, who was also part of the trade.

Bundy vs Howard

Dylan Bundy
VS
Spencer Howard
1-8 Record 0-2
6.66 ERA 5.72
4.87 xERA 4.11
1.41 WHIP 1.48
2.59 SO/W 1.82

Howard made three starts for the Phillies before being traded after being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He had a 6.00 ERA in those games, not pitching more than 3.2 innings or throwing 45 pitches in any of them as he was transitioning from reliever to starter.

Howard was 0-2 with a 4.84 ERA in seven starts for the Phillies overall and posted a 9.00 ERA as a reliever. He began the season in the Phillies’ bullpen before making six starts for Lehigh Valley where he had a 1-0 record and 1.25 ERA.

He will be strictly a starter with the Rangers, which makes the 25-year-old happy.

None of Howard’s starts in the majors were quality ones as he did not pitch more than four innings in any. He had no record with a 4.76 ERA in five day games, including two starts.

Howard will be pitching at Globe Life Field for the first time in his young career.

Bundy returned to the Angels’ rotation last Thursday after making four straight relief appearances. He took the loss at home against the Oakland Athletics, allowing three runs in 5.1 innings while giving up two hits, walking four and striking out two.

Bundy is 1-8 with a 6.75 ERA as a starter this season and his five quality starts in 15 tries. He had a 5.40 ERA while working out the bullpen.

It seems like eons ago, but Bundy started on opening day for the Angels.

On the road, Bundy has an 0-5 record and 6.56 ERA in nine games (seven starts). He is 0-3 with a 5.66 in eight games (seven starts) during the day.

Bundy is 5-2 in his career against the Rangers with a 3.51 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) but lost his lone start against them this season when he allowed five runs in five innings April 19 at Anaheim. Bundy won his only career start at Globe Life Field last season when he yielded two runs in 7.1 innings.

He’s a Brock Star

Rangers third baseman Brock Holt has worn Bundy out over the years. Holt is 11 for 18 (.611) against the right-hander with three doubles and one home run.

First baseman Nathaniel Lowe is 3 for 7 (.429) with two doubles. Rookie right fielder Adolis Garcia has faced Bundy just twice but has a double and homer.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

Angels Batters Batting Average vs Spencer Howard
Adam Eaton .500
Rangers Batters Batting Average vs Dylan Bundy
Adolis Garcia 1.000
Brock Holt .611
Isaiah Kiner-Falefa .462
Nathaniel Lowe .429
Jose Trevino .250
Charlie Culberson .000

Outfielder Adam Eaton is the only Angels player who has faced Howard, going 1 for 2 with a double.

Angels second baseman David Fletcher has multiple hits in 11 of his last 25. During that span, he is batting .355 (38 for 107) with seven doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 13 RBIs.

Fletcher has endeared himself to Angels’ fans with his scrappy play.

Rangers rookie second baseman Andy Ibanez is hitting .295 (13 for 44) in 14 games since July 20 with two doubles, one triple, three homers and seven RBIs. Center fielder Eli White is questionable after being a late lineup scratch Wednesday because of tightness in his right elbow.

Angels vs Rangers Pick

The Angels had won seven of 10 meetings between the clubs prior to Wednesday, including splitting six games in Arlington. Third baseman Jack Mayfield led the way in a 2-1 win Wednesday night by going 3 for 3 with a solo home run while center fielder Juan Lagares scored from second base on a wild pitch.

Howard might feel some nerves in his first start with a new team, but he seems genuinely excited to be with the Rangers. Meanwhile, it is difficult to do anything with the hugely disappointing Bundy other than fade him.

The Pick: Rangers moneyline (+100)

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