Dodgers vs Angels Prediction, Best Bets & Odds (6/20)

Things may well look much different at the end of the season, but this week’s two-game set between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels will take place with the two teams in a very unfamiliar position.

Ahead of tonight’s series opener (10:10 pm ET, TBS), the Angels (41-33, 20-14 home) have a better record than the Dodgers (39-33, 17-19 away) and are playing the better baseball as well.

Whereas June has been a pretty miserable month for the boys in blue, who have lost 10 of their last 14 games, it has been quite the opposite for the Angels, who have won 11 of their last 14 games.

Will Clayton Kershaw deliver at Angel Stadium to help halt the Halos’ hot streak? Read on for our prediction and best bets for tonight’s Dodgers vs Angels game.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Los Angeles Angels Odds

Moneyline

• Los Angeles Dodgers -135
• Los Angeles Angels +125

Over/Under

• Over 9 (-105)
• Under 9 (-115)

Run Line

• Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+120)
• Los Angeles Angels +1.5 (-140)

Pitching Matchup for Dodgers vs Angels

• Los Angeles Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (14 starts, 8-4, 2.95 ERA)
• Los Angeles Angels: LHP Reid Detmers (12 starts, 1-5, 4.48 ERA)

Resurgent Hurlers Take the Hill at Angel Stadium

After giving up 29 runs in being swept at home in a three-game series against the rival San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers need a strong night on the mound from Kershaw in the worst way.

The Dodgers may be more renowned for their plate production than the Giants are, but San Francisco went into Dodger Stadium and scored seven or more runs in each game, including a 15-0 rout on Saturday.

In their run of 10 losses in 14 games, the Dodgers have given up five or more runs nine times, and they have lost every single game in which they have done so. For the season, they are 6-28 when giving up five or more runs, compared to 33-11 when scoring five or more runs.

There’s reason to be hopeful that there won’t be as much generosity tonight against the Angels, as Kershaw has bounced back from some May struggles and is putting together a solid June.

In three starts, he is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and has allowed four runs, 15 hits, and five walks while striking out 23 in 20 innings. Last month, he was 1-3 with a 5.55 ERA in five starts and gave up 15 runs, 31 hits, and 11 walks in only 24.2 innings.

Will a strong start be backed up with adequate run support, however? The Dodgers have scored five or more runs in six of Kershaw’s eight road starts this season and are 5-1 in those games, so if they can keep that going, it should be a positive sign.

That said, another challenging night could be ahead for the Dodgers after they managed only three runs in their last two games against the Giants.

After not allowing fewer than two runs in any of his first 10 starts this season, Detmers has allowed only one run in each of his last two starts, and for the first time in his MLB career, he has logged eight or more strikeouts in consecutive starts.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Los Angeles Angels Prediction and Best Bets

Prediction for Dodgers vs Angels: Dodgers to win

Best Bet for Dodgers vs Angels: Angels ML

While the Dodgers go into tonight’s matchup with three consecutive losses and have not been playing well overall over the last couple of weeks, they are still 21-11 (.656) in games following a loss, which is second best in MLB behind the Baltimore Orioles (19-8, .704).

Yet, while the Angels are only 4-8 in Detmers’ starts this season, I’m going with the hot team here.

In this matchup of lefty pitchers, I’m giving the edge to the team that hits much better against southpaws, and that is the Angels. The Dodgers enter tonight’s game hitting just .230 against LHP (.245 against RHP), while the Angels are hitting .266 against LHP (.253 against RHP).

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