Sunday MLB Odds, Preview, Prediction for Athletics vs. Angels: Expect Offenses to Sputter in AL West Clash (August 1)
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images. Pictured: Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers.
- The Los Angeles Angels host the Oakland Athletics in a key Sunday MLB showdown in AL West action.
- Baseball analyst Kenny Ducey dives deep into this matchup and delivers his top betting angle for this showdown.
- Check out below why he finds plenty of value of betting the under in this confrontation.
Athletics vs. Angels Odds
| Athletics Odds | +100 |
| Angels Odds | -120 |
| Over/Under | 9.5 (-110 / -110) |
| Time | 4:07 p.m. ET |
| TV | MLB.TV |
| Odds as Sunday morning via DraftKings. | |
After some questionable play coming into a big series with AL West foe Los Angeles, the Oakland Athletics are back on the saddle and seeking a series victory in the fourth and final game of the weekend set with the Angels.
Oakland now sits 5.5 games behind the Houston Astros for first place in the division and continues to get incredible performances from its starting pitching.
With James Kaprielian going down this week, the Athletics need a heroic performance from Daulton Jefferies. Is it finally time to fade Oakland given the pitching situation? Let's take a look at the matchup.
Oakland Turning to Former First-Round Pick Jefferies
Sometimes when things just appear to be getting good, you hit a roadblock. Oakland had just begun to find its winning groove again with some masterful performances from its pitching staff, which allowed just one run over the last three games, when rising youngster James Kaprielian was placed on the 10-day IL with a minor issue.
That forced the Athletics to make a move they probably didn't want to at this point, and that was to bring up Jefferies to take his spot in the rotation.
Jefferies, a first-round pick in 2016, has not had a fun time over the last year and change (but who has, really?). He was blazing through the Oakland system, reaching Double-A in 2019 and posting a 3.66 ERA in 21 appearances before getting the call to the bigs in last year's shortened season.
He allowed five earned runs in two innings in his debut, which began a backslide that has continued with a 5.19 ERA in 12 Triple-A starts this year.
The righty still stands as the No. 5 prospect in Oakland's system with a 60-grade changeup and excellent command. His struggles in the minors this year came via the home run; he allowed 1.8 per nine innings.
There's obviously a good pitcher inside him somewhere, so it's just a matter of whether or not he can pull it out.
Fellow Youngster Detmers Taking Mound for Los Angeles
Youths on the hill will define this game. On the other side of things, Reid Detmers — the Angels' first-round pick a year ago and the No. 56 prospect in baseball — will get the ball for Los Angeles, as it tries to walk away from the series with at least a split.
The left-hander owns a 3.15 ERA, with a beefy 15.9 strikeouts per nine in 13 minor-league starts this year. All but one of those outings have come at the Double-A level. His only turn in the rotation at Triple-A Salt Lake was a gem. Detmers spun six shutout innings with nine strikeouts and just three hits against him. He had trouble with homers at times in Double-A, but with the ridiculous strikeout numbers, he fits the profile of the modern pitcher.
Los Angeles will hope this one turns into a pitchers' duel, with the slightly shinier young arm and inferior offense. It ranks 29th over the last two weeks, with a 76 wRC+ and a lackluster .225 batting average.
The Angels have only made contact 76.2% of the time over that span, sitting right around the middle of the league, and their walk rate is a putrid 6.2% with an even-worse .130 ISO. Simply put, nothing is working on offense and there are no signs of things turning around.
Athletics-Angels Pick
Both teams have been near the bottom of the league in offensive production in the last couple of weeks, so getting this number is not only a gift, but an indication oddsmakers don't trust the young pitchers battling in this matchup.
I'm of the belief both men are in a spot to succeed. Jefferies should build confidence as the game goes on against a lineup that's completely lost at the moment and lacks the big-bop potential to rattle him early.
Detmers has a great pedigree and succeeded at everything he's tried. And due to the fact he's facing a team that's not only slumping, but has slipped against left-handed pitching, he should have an easy time.
I'm going to take full advantage of this high total and recommend you do the same in this spot.
Pick: Total Under 9.5 (-110)
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