The Los Angeles Angels (9-9) and Tampa Bay Rays (10-9) wrap up a 4-game series Thursday. First pitch from Tropicana Field is at 1:10 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Angels vs. Rays odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 3-3
The Angels entered the series having lost 4 of their last 5 games but have taken 2 of 3 so far, winning Monday’s opener 7-3 and picking up a 5-4 victory Wednesday.
The Rays are 5-3 in their last 8 games but have lost 3 of their last 5. They beat the Angels 7-6 in the 2nd game of the series Tuesday.
Angel at Rays projected starters
RHP Griffin Canning vs. RHP Ryan Pepiot
Canning (0-2, 9.88 ERA) makes his 4th start. He has a 1.83 WHIP, 4 BB and 12 K in 13 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 4 IP, 7 R (6 ER), 9 H, 0 BB, 9 K in 7-2 road loss to Boston Red Sox Saturday
- Has allowed 4 or more runs in all 3 starts this season
Pepiot (1-2, 5.40 ERA) makes his 4th start. He has a 1.02 WHIP, 5 BB and 20 K in 16 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 5 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K in 11-2 home loss to San Francicsco Giants Saturday
- Making 1st career appearance vs. Angels
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Angels at Rays odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Angels +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Rays -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Angels +1.5 (-150) | Rays -1.5 (+125)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Angels at Rays picks and predictions
Prediction
Rays 6, Angels 5
Moneyline
The Rays (-160), who are coming off a loss, have not dropped consecutive games in their last 11 outings. They have alternated wins and losses over their last 6 games.
The Angels (+135) have not won 2 straight since a 4-game winning streak from March 31-April 3, a span of 12 contests.
Pepiot has alternated good and not-so-good starts; he allowed 4 runs in 5 innings last time out. His 1.02 WHIP suggests that he is more likely to have a good start than Canning, who has a 1.83 WHIP. Canning has allowed at least 4 runs in every start.
BET RAYS (-160).
Run line/Against the spread
Two of the 3 games in the series have been decided by 1 run.
The Rays have won 5 of their last 7 games. Two of those wins have been by 2 or more runs. They are 7-12 ATS this season.
The Angels’ last 2 losses have been by 1 run.
As much as it would be nice to say you should bet the plus odds for the Rays to cover, that’s not a bet I am confident in, and the odds for a Rays win and an Angels cover are almost the same.
PASS.
Over/Under
The Angels’ last 5 Games had at least 9 total runs, as have the Rays’ last 5.
With Canning having allowed 4 or more runs in all 3 starts this season, this feels like the easiest bet of the game to make.
BET OVER 8.5 (-115).
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