MLB

Pirates vs Angels Prediction - MLB Picks 7/21/23

Published

1y ago

Jul 22, 2023 / 760 Views

Evan Walker

Los Angeles Angels (49-48) vs Pittsburgh Pirates (42-54)

Game Info: Friday, July 21, 2023 at 9:38 pm (Angel Stadium of Anaheim)

Shohei Ohtani (7-5) (3.59) vs Johan Oviedo (3-10) (4.53)

Betting Odds: Los Angeles Angels -172 / Pittsburgh Pirates +135 --- Over/Under: 8 Click Here for the Latest Odds

The Pittsburgh Pirates will fly out to Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels in interleague play this Friday from Angel Stadium.

Pirates Betting Preview

Pittsburgh comes in at 42-54 after dropping two of three to Cleveland. The Pirates snapped a five-Game skid with a Game three victory, but at twelve Games below .500, they’ve fully reverted back to their old ways. The Pittsburgh offense is scoring 4.11 runs per Game, while batting .243, with a .321 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.34 ERA, with a 1.39 WHIP. Bryan Reynolds plated a run in Game three, and he’s leading the Pirates in hits (80), with 44 RBI. Carlos Santana has taken a walk in six of the last seven Games, and he’s posting splits of .230/9/45. Jack Suwinski also produced a run in the Game three win to extend his team-leads to 19 HR and 49 RBI.

Johan Oviedo (3-10, 4.53 ERA, 97 Ks) will get the ball for Pittsburgh. The fourth-year righty returned from the break and tossed a gem against San Francisco, tying a season-high ten strikeouts in seven full innings pitched, but he somehow wasn’t rewarded with a winning decision. That’s been a sad, recurring theme for Oviedo this season, who’s either been dealt a loss or no decision despite pitching well multiple times this season. Oviedo’s last trip to the LA area didn’t go particularly well, as he gave up five runs in 6.2 innings to the Dodgers in his start to close the first half, and he’ll seek better results here.

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Angels Betting Preview

Los Angeles moved to 49-48 after sweeping New York. The Angels may have saved their season with their effort against the Yankees, and they’ll look to carry that momentum into the weekend. The LAA offense is scoring 4.16 runs per Game, while batting .252, with a .331 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.33 ERA, with a 1.27 WHIP. Mike Trout, Brandon Drury, and Gio Urshela remain out, leaving holes in the Halo lineup, but they’ve received support outside of Shohei Ohtani elsewhere. Hunter Renfroe is third on the team with fifteen homers and 42 RBI, but he was silent in the Yankees series. Taylor Ward homered and plated three runs in the Game one victory, and he up to splits of .248/11/38.

Shohei Ohtani (7-5, 3.50 ERA, 139 Ks) will take the mound for LAA. The two-way superstar was roughed up in his return from the break by Houston, as he gave up five runs in five innings pitched en route to his fifth loss. That’s two straight losses for Ohtani, who’s taken a step back on the mound this season, but this home spot against Pittsburgh gives him a good opportunity to bounce back. Ohtani has surpassed the ten-strikeout mark in three of his last five outings at Angel Stadium. Ohtani provided fireworks at the plate in the Game one win over the Yankees, and he’s first in the AL in home runs (35), while leading LAA on RBI (75) and batting (.297).

Pittsburgh vs Anaheim Trends

Pittsburgh is 49-46 against the spread this season, with a 41-49-4 O/U record. LA Angels are 43-51 ATS this year, with a 45-42-7 over/under record.

Corey’s Free Pick

The Angels find themselves hosting another slumping team, who’s temporary issues surpass the cloud of the Ohtani trade rumors, and I believe they capitalize here with their star on the mound. The Pirates have effectively played themselves out of the playoff picture, and they just aren’t producing right now. Pittsburgh does have a pesky side to them, similar to Chicago and Baltimore, so be careful this weekend, but with Ohtani set to go, we should trust the Halos here.

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