The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels have been among the
American League’s hottest clubs, with both squads uniting to notch an 11-1 mark
in their last six games. Monday night’s
MLB slate has the rivals opening a three-game set in Anaheim.
*Joe Freda’s 2012 MLB Record: 19-11-1 (+8.00)*
Both teams send right-handed hurlers to the hill, with Los Angeles’
Jered Weaver (6-1, 2.61 ERA) squaring off against New York’s Phil Hughes (4-5,
4.94 ERA). Sports books opened Weaver as
a 165 favorite, while first setting the total at a flat 7.5.
Weaver goes eight in
Oakland
Weaver logged a no-decision in Wednesday’s 3-1 victory for Los
Angeles as a 154 road favorite against the Oakland Athletics. The 29-year-old allowed three hits over eight
innings, including a homer from Oakland’s Seth Smith.
Los Angeles’ Alberto Callaspo poked a two-run double in the affair’s
11th frame, ending a lengthy 1-1 stalemate. Angels relievers Jordan Walden and Ernesto
Frieri logged their staff’s win and save, respectively, holding Oakland hitless
in the contest’s final two innings.
The battle’s combined four runs dipped below the total of 6.5,
ending a 4-0 run for the OVER in Weaver’s prior four starts. Angels outfielders Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo
were both held to 0-for-5 days, leaving five men on base.
Hughes holds off Royals
Hughes notched his third win in four starts with Tuesday’s 3-2
triumph for the New York Yankees as a 169 home favorite against the Kansas City
Royals. The six-year hurler gave up both
of Kansas City’s runs, while logging seven strikeouts over six frames.
Yankees slugger Robinson Cano cracked a solo shot homer, while
mates Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson finished with one RBI each. New York’s Alex Rodriguez and Raul Ibanez
each left four men on base, uniting to hit 2-for-8.
The tight affair’s combined five runs plunged below the ‘total’ of
nine, bringing the UNDER to 6-2-1 in Hughes’ nine outings. New York’s five relievers held the Royals to
two hits over the final three frames, with closer Rafael Soriano logging his
squad’s save.
Back the OVER in Anaheim
Monday’s first pitch is scheduled for 9:05 p.m. (ET). The weather forecast in Anaheim calls for a
clear 70 degrees, with calm winds.
I am adding the OVER in this matchup to our selection of MLB picks for the
evening’s action, looking for a looser affair here than Weaver’s typically
tight home outings. Los Angeles lit up
Hughes for six runs in 3 1/3 innings last month in New York, while the OVER is
4-1 in the Yankees’ last five games against a starter with a WHIP of 1.15 or
less.
Angels first baseman Albert Pujols went 2-for-2 against Hughes in
the April set, including an RBI double, and comes into the series with home
runs in three of his last four games.
Pujols’ mates Maicer Izturis and Howard Kendrick each have a homer off
Hughes, combining to hit 7-for-14 lifetime.
New York’s lineup should hold its own against Weaver, notching a
.268 BA and .350 OBP against right-handed pitching on the road. Ibanez has a 14-for-27 career mark facing
Weaver, including four homers, while Alex Rodriguez and Curtis Granderson have
combined for eight long balls in 41 lifetime at-bat’s.
The OVER is 5-1-1 in New York’s last seven contests as a road dog,
while going 4-1 in Weaver’s last five outings against American League East
clubs. Look for the OVER to collect
again here, with the pitching matchup giving both lineups their share of
chances.