New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels Betting Preview

Tuesday night features the second of a four-game series between the New York Yankees (12-10) and the Los Angeles Angels (9-14). Monday’s game was a thriller, going extra innings after solid pitching left the two teams at 2-2 at the end of nine innings. Ultimately, the Yankees prevailed after third baseman Gio Urshela batted in the go-ahead run in the top of the 14th inning and Jonathan Holder held the Angels scoreless in the bottom half. Luke Voit of the Yankees and Jonathan Lucroy of the Angels both had nice nights as they both homered for their respective teams.

Fast forwarding to tonight, it will be Domingo German (3-1, 2.37 ERA) taking the mound for the Yankees to square off against the Angels’ righty, Chris Stratton (0-1, 7.00 ERA). The two teams will square off from Angels Stadium Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 10:07 pm ET.

The moneyline for Monday’s game is set at the New York Yankees -112 and the Los Angeles Angels +102. The over/under for runs scored is set at 8.5.

Yankees Hoping To Stay Competitive

It has already been talked about at length how banged up the Yankees’ squad is. Still, the old saying is the show must go on, and that is exactly the mentality New York has focused on. They are hoping that their youngsters (i.e., Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier) can keep swinging it well and their starting rotation and bullpen can keep them in most games.

On Tuesday, the Yanks will hand Domingo German the ball. In his 4 games (3 starts), German is 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and opponents are hitting just .134 against him. In 19 innings, he has allowed 9 hits, 5 earned runs, 2 home runs and has struck out 23 while walking just 7. Given how the bullpen was taxed a little in the extra-inning game, the Yankees will be hoping German can go deep into this one.

With so many hitters missing, it has really given some of the youngsters an opportunity to bloom. Most notably, Clint Frazier has been crushing the ball this year. Thus far, he is hitting .339/.358/.661 with 6 home runs, 17 runs batted in and 9 runs scored in 62 at-bats.

Another solid contributor has been newly acquired DJ LeMahieu. Signed in the offseason to be a utility player, LeMahieu has prospered in a regular position due to the injuries. In 72 at-bats, he is hitting .306/.366/.431 with 6 doubles, 1 home run, 10 runs batted in and 12 runs scored. Aside from that, the Yanks will look to players like Luke Voit and Brett Gardner to help shoulder the load. Gary Sanchez might return Wednesday, but a full, healthy lineup seems a far ways off for the Bronx Bombers at this point.

Stratton Looks To Avoid Big Innings

The pitching for the Angels has been suspect at best thus far this year. They currently rank 23rd with a 4.95 ERA, and Tuesday’s starter, Chris Stratton, has not helped the numbers too much so far. On the season, he is 0-1 with a 7.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and opponents are hitting .315 against him in 4 starts. Over the course of 18 innings, he has allowed 23 hits, 14 earned runs, 2 home runs and has walked (13) more than he has struck out (11).

In his last outing, an 11-10 loss to the Seattle Mariners, Stratton went 5 innings, allowing 7 hits, 6 earned runs, 3 walks and struck out 4. Like many times for Stratton, it was one big inning that got him as he allowed 4 runs in the second inning of that game.

Offensively, Mike Trout continues to show why he might be the best player to have ever laced up his cleats. On the season, Trout is hitting .333/.524/.719 with 6 home runs, 14 runs batted in, 14 runs scored and more walks (20) than strikeouts (9). Sadly, the Angels organization continues to struggle to put a winning club around him.

One player who is also in the conversation for the greatest players to ever play the game is Albert Pujols. On the season, Pujols is hitting just .238/.351/.429 with 3 home runs, 11 runs batted in and 8 runs scored. While he is just a glimmer of the player he once was, his career impact was on display the other day when he passed the great Babe Ruth for 5th place on the all-time runs batted in list. On a team that can struggle at times aside from Trout, Pujols is doing his best to offer some protection.

Yanks Take The First Two

For me, this one comes down to the pitching. Chris Stratton has shown a knack for giving up runs, particularly giving up big innings, and Domingo German to this point has been solid. It is not to say that the youngster won’t hit some rough patches along the way, but between the fact that I think the Yankees will be able to put some runs on Stratton, and the exceptional bullpen that will follow behind German, I like the Yankees’ chances to win.

Manager Aaron Boone will hope that German can go deep to rest his tired bullpen after the extra-inning affair last night, but even if he has to tap into it, the Yankees’ bullpen is much stronger than that of the Angels. For my money, I am taking the Yankees at -112 to take game two of this four-game series.