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MLB Over/Under Best Bet: Skaggs and Hamels open up three-game set at The Big A

By Matt Zylbert

Aug 17, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs (45) pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 17, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Tyler Skaggs (45) pitches against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Rangers and Angels kick off a three-game series in Anaheim tonight, with Cole Hamels and Tyler Skaggs both looking poised to help deliver a win for under bettors.

After a trifecta of awful bad beats over the weekend on bets that all should’ve won, Monday night delivered us an actual legitimate loss, so now would be a good time to turn the page and get back in the win column. Let’s see what this second Tuesday of the year has to offer.

Zylbert’s 2017 MLB Over/Under Betting Record: 3-5-2, -235

Yesterday’s Result: Cosart vs Chatwood Over 11.5 (Loss)

Texas Rangers @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Cole Hamels vs Tyler Skaggs

UNDER 8 (-115) (Odds via OddsShark)

When the Rangers and Angels reignite their AL West rivalry this evening in the first meeting of a three-game set, we’ll be relying on two southpaws who probably pitched better in their respective season debuts than the stats would indicate.

First off, on the hill for Texas will be the proven Cole Hamels, one of the game’s best left-handed starters over the past decade. The 33-year-old surrendered four runs over six innings in his first start of the new campaign against the defending American League champion Indians, but he looked better than that overall, even retiring the first nine batters he faced in his season-opening assignment.

Interestingly, it may have worked against Hamels that he was working from the home confines of Arlington, where he posted a 4.40 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 15 starts a year ago. By comparison, Hamels was literally a full two runs better on the road, in which he logged a 2.40 ERA and 1.17 WHIP — while going 10-3 across 17 outings. Hopefully that trend of success away from home can continue at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, and ideally it should, being more of a pitcher’s park.

In five career starts opposite the Halos, the former World Series MVP is 2-1 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. It’s also worth noting that star hitters Mike Trout and Albert Pujols are a combined 4-for-22 (.182) with one homer versus Hamels.

On the other side of the equation is Tyler Skaggs, who endured a similar 2017 debut compared to tonight’s counterpart. Like with Hamels, the 25-year-old lefty started off his assignment by putting up zeroes on the scoreboard before one bad inning did him in.

Even so, this is someone that can be backed with confidence, as Skaggs has exhibited the tools that figure to make him a consistently successful starting pitcher in the majors once he’s able to stay off the disabled list. He just returned from Tommy John surgery last season, and given the circumstances, he fared pretty well in his first action back, posting a 4.17 ERA in 10 starts in 2016, striking out more than a batter per inning in the process.

One of his efforts from a year ago included an early September encounter opposite the Rangers, whom he baffled over six shutout innings while recording a season-high-tying eight strikeouts. And just like with Hamels, Skaggs’ 2016 split stats could come in handy here, except in the opposite manner, as the former Diamondback was two runs better in his outings at home (2.76 ERA) compared to on the road (4.86 ERA). With all of this known, there could be some solid pitching on display in this series opener.

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