Angels vs. Athletics Odds, Pick and Prediction (5/15/22)

Sports betting analyst Nick Galaida breaks down Angels vs. Athletics Sox odds, previews each team, and delivers picks and predictions for Sunday. Use our PointsBet promo code to get a $2000 in free bets!

Angels vs. Athletics Odds

This afternoon, the Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland Athletics will conclude a four-game, weekend set at the Coliseum. Los Angeles took the series opener by a final score of 2-0, and then these two teams split yesterday’s double-header. Looking for a series win, the Angels will hand the ball to Patrick Sandoval. The Athletics will counter with Frankie Montas. Oddsmakers anticipate a Los Angeles victory in this one, pricing them as -130 favorites on the moneyline.

Let’s take a deeper look at the matchup to see where MLB bettors can find value at sportsbooks for this matchup.

Los Angeles Angels

Patrick Sandoval enters play with a 2.03 ERA, 2.97 xERA, and a 2.45 FIP. He ranks in the 61st percentile in strikeout percentage, 56th percentile in average exit velocity, 68th percentile in whiff percentage, and the 52nd percentile in chase rate. The primary concerns remain a 31st percentile walk percentage, and continued struggles against right-handed batters. Issuing free passes could be especially problematic against an Oakland lineup that has shown a tendency to stack the order with righties when facing a southpaw. 

Sandoval is backed by one of the hottest offenses in baseball. The Angels rank 5th in OPS across the last seven days, 16th in OPS across the last two weeks, and 3rd in OPS across the last month. This is an offense with plenty of power potential and a skillful ability to draw base-on-balls. The primary weakness for this group is a proclivity to strikeout at extremely high rates.

Raisel Iglesias, Aaron Loup, and Ryan Tepera have both thrown in three of the last four days, putting their availability for this afternoon’s affair in doubt. Oliver Ortega, Kyle Barraclough, and Mike Mayers each threw yesterday, but had not thrown in the four days prior. This is a vulnerable unit heading into the series finale. 

Oakland Athletics

Frankie Montas enters action on Sunday with a 3.77 ERA, 2.97 xERA, and a 3.63 FIP. He ranks in the 59th percentile in average exit velocity, 60th percentile in strikeout percentage, 62nd percentile in walk percentage, and the 91st percentile in chase rate. His velocity and spin rates remain among the best in the game as well. Notably, Montas has elevated his split finger to his primary pitch in 2022–against which, hitters have posted a putrid .142 wOBA. 

The Athletics offense ranks 26th in OPS over the last week, and 30th in OPS over the last two weeks and month, respectively. Simply, this is not a talented collection of hitters. Oakland’s saving grace against left-handed pitching has been their ability to load-up on right-handed batters, creating matchup problems for the opposing starter. When facing southpaws in 2022, the Athletics rank 20th in OPS, 18th in ISO, 11th in walk-rate, and 26th in strikeout percentage.

Similar to the Angels, the Athletics have bullpen usage concerns heading into this matchup. Lou Trivino, Kirby Snead, and Sam Moll have each appeared twice in the last two days. Justin Grimm threw 41 pitches yesterday. Adam Kolarek and Zach Jackson also threw in Saturday’s double-header. An arm barn already devoid of much talent, this unit is even weaker this afternoon.

Angels vs. Athletics Pick 

Both of today’s starting pitchers are capable of slowing down the opposing offense, but the late innings could present problems for bettors anticipating a low-scoring affair in this spot. The Angels and Athletics could both be without their top three relief options on Sunday. At such a low number on the market, the over has value today.

• PICK: Over 7 Runs (-110)