LA Angels (52-68) vs Atlanta Braves (63-56)
August 16, 2024 at 09:38 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: LA Angels +125 / Atlanta Braves -150 — Over/Under: 8.5
The Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels square off Friday in MLB action from Angel Stadium. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s an Atlanta Braves vs LA Angels Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Atlanta Braves will send out Spencer Schwellenbach for the start here and Schwellenbach is 4-5 with a 3.95 ERA and 77 strikeouts this season. This will be Schwellenbach’s first career start against the Angels. Jose Soriano will start for the Angels here and Soriano is 6-7 with a 3.36 ERA and 92 strikeouts this season. This will be Soriano’s first career start against the Angels.
Atlanta Braves Recap
The Atlanta Braves come into this one looking to bounce back after failing to complete the sweep of the San Francisco Giants thanks to a 6-0 loss in Thursday’s series finale. The Braves still got the series win which snapped a series losing streak that featured sets against the Rockies and Brewers over the last week and a half.
Braves Trying To Catch Phillies Atop NL East
Marcell Ozuna leads the Braves with 136 hits including 35 home runs and 90 RBIs while Orlando Arcia has 19 doubles and Ozzie Albies has a team-high 28 doubles, logging 93 hits as well this season. Ronald Acuna Jr. has a team-high 16 stolen bases as well this season but is out for the season with a torn ACL. Matt Olson has 24 doubles, 21 home runs and 62 RBIs with a team-high 141 strikeouts and Austin Riley has 26 doubles with a pair of triples.
Why the Atlanta Braves will win
- The Braves have won each of their last six night games against American League opponents that held a losing record.
- The Angels have lost five of their last six games.
- The Braves have covered the run line in each of their last six games against the Angels following a loss.
- The Angels have failed to cover the run line in five of their last six games.
Los Angeles Angels Recap
The Los Angeles Angels come into this series trying to bounce back after being swept by the Toronto Blue Jays thanks to a 9-2 loss in Wednesday’s series finale. The sweep made it back-to-back series losses after dropping their series to the Washington Nationals last weekend.
Angels Trying To Play Spoiler
Taylor Ward has 100 hits along with 21 doubles, 16 home runs and 56 RBIs while Zach Neto has 26 doubles, 98 strikeouts and 22 stolen bases. Luis Rengifo also has 85 hits and 24 stolen bases while Jo Adell has 18 home runs, 54 RBIs and 14 stolen bases as well. Logan O’Hoppe has 94 hits and Neto has a team-high 107 hits as well with O’Hoppe adding 16 homers and 46 RBIs.
Why the Los Angeles Angels will win
- The underdogs have won seven of the Angels’ last eight games.
- The Braves have lost nine of their last 11 games as favorites following a loss.
- The Braves have failed to cover the run line in eight of their last nine games as favorites.
- The Angels have covered the run line in seven of their last eight night games against teams that held a winning record.
Atlanta Braves vs LA Angels Prediction
I’m on the Braves here. I just don’t like the form that the Angels are in right now, and the fact of the matter is that the Braves are the only team here with anything of consequence to play for. The Angels look like a team that’s just cooked and are playing out the string, while the Braves haven’t played well but are still a solid lineup with a good rotation and the better bullpen. Give me Atlanta to draw first blood in this series.