In any sport, the best place you can be is in front and ahead of the pack, especially when the lead is a big one. Teams that open up a big lead in the MLB are better equipped to survive the losing streaks that will inevitably hit, especially once we get into the second half of the season. All the pressure gets heaped on the teams that are chasing the leaders, as they quickly start to learn that the Wild Card might well be their only path to the playoffs. Instead of trying to catch one team, they may be forced to pass 4 or 5, although the bonus is that the deficit is always a little more manageable.
The Cincinnati Reds and the LA Angels are both in the chasing pack in the Wild Card in their respective leagues, which makes this interleague series all the more intriguing. These two will meet up twice in this series and then play another 2 games against one another in August. The Angels are favored by 1 ½ in their own ballpark, with the run total for this one set at 9.
Reds vs Angels MLB Odds & Expert Pick for Tuesday Night
- When: Tuesday, June 25 at 10:07 PM EST
- Where: Angels Stadium, Anaheim
- Starting Pitchers: Mahle vs. Heaney
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Radio: 830 AM
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- MLB Odds: Los Angeles Angels -140 (Total 9)
Athletics vs Cardinals MLB Lines & Game Preview
Why bet on the Cincinnati Reds?
The Cincinnati Reds are a bit of a strange proposition in that they are dead last in their division, yet very much alive and well in the race for a playoff spot. Overall, Cincinnati is sitting 4 games below .500 at 36-40 on the season, but they are just 4 games out of the final Wild Card spot in the NL, albeit with a handful of teams sitting ahead of them right now.There is a reason to believe that they might still be able to pull this off, though, as how many teams sitting last in a division have a run differential of +48. Defensively this team has been solid, but they just have not been able to stay consistent. They are 17-23 SU on the road, but also 22-12 ATS as a road dog. They will send Tyler Mahle (2-7, 4.17 ERA) to the mound for this one.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 2.04
- Hits: 3.65
- Walks: 1.43
- Strike Outs: 4.10
Defense
- Runs: 1.74
- Hits: 3.56
- Walks: 1.55
- Strike Outs: 4.46
Why bet on the LA Angels?
It is, once again, the Mike Trout show in Anaheim, with the best player in baseball currently leading the team in HR, RBI, and batting average. There is a reason that the Angels shelled out a small fortune to keep Trout in an Angels uniform for the long haul, but it is also clear that they need to get him some help. The Angels are sitting at 39-40 on the season, 10 games out of first place in the AL West.
Like the Reds, though, this is a team that is still hanging around in the Wild Card race, sitting 4 ½ games out of the final spot. The Angels are a mediocre 19-18 at home, so no real advantage there. They have been good in interleague play, going 7-4 SU. The Angels will have Andrew Heaney (0-1, 5.68 ERA) on the mound for this one.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 2.45
- Hits: 4.30
- Walks: 1.77
- Strike Outs: 3.19
Defense
- Runs: 2.43
- Hits: 4.07
- Walks: 1.68
- Strike Outs: 4.20
Rockies vs Giants MLB Odds, Game Info & Analysis
Reds vs Angels MLB Betting Trends
- Reds are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games against LA Angels
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Cincinnati’s last 11 games on the road
- Angels are 8-4 SU in their last 12 games against an opponent in the National League Central division
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of LA Angels’ last 8 games played on a Tuesday
- Angels are 160-115 against the money line in an inter-league game since 1997
- Reds are 25-17 against the money line in night games this season
Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction
I think we are looking at a tight affair here, which is why I like the Reds against the spread. I think that Cincinnati might also just be able to eke this one out.Score: Cincinnati Reds 4 – Los Angeles Angels 3
