Angels vs. Rays Prediction and Odds for Wednesday, August 24 (Fade Angels Against Lefties)

Tampa Bay Rays ace, Shane McClanahan, has come back to earth in the second half of the season, but he is still one of the best pitchers in baseball with a 2.29 ERA and an 11-5 record this season. 

McClanahan gets a matchup with the Los Angeles Angels, who have lost four straight and seven of their last 10, on Wednesday night. Mike Mayers (1-0, 5.22 ERA) is making his first start of the year, and while he will likely serve as an opener, he has thrown 3.1, 4.0 and 5.1 innings in his last three outings out of the bullpen. 

The Rays have a major pitching advantage, but is there value in betting on them tonight?

Here are the odds from WynnBET: 

Angels vs. Rays Odds, Run Line and Total

Run Line:

• Angels +1.5 (-105)
• Rays -1.5 (-115)

Moneyline:

• Angels: +237
• Rays: -260

Total: 

• 7 (Over -105/Under -115)

Angels vs. Rays Prediction and Pick

If there’s one thing you should do with this Angels team, it’s fade them against left-handed pitching. Los Angeles ranks 28th in MLB on OPS and 27th in batting average against lefties this season. 

That’s going to be a problem against one of the best lefties in all of baseball, especially when Mayers is the pitcher opposing him. 

Mayers went 5.1 innings in relief in his last outing, and he gave up five earned runs on six hits to the Seattle Mariners. On the flip side, McClahnahan has allowed more than three earned runs in just two of his 23 starts this season. 

The Rays haven’t been an elite offensive team this season, but I think they’ll be able to get to Mayers. Given the Angels’ struggles against lefties, this is an easy spot to back McClanahan and the Rays. 

Lean: Rays -1.5 (-115)

Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.