Angels vs. Rays Prediction and Odds for Monday, August 22 (How to Bet Total)

The helpless Los Angeles Angles continue their east coast road trip, now heading to the Trop for an early week series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Angles dropped two of three from the Tigers over the weekend while the Rays are jockeying for position in the AL Wild Card, currently in a three-way tie with the Blue Jays and Mariners. Can Tampa Bay beat up on an inferior opponent and help their standing?

Here are the odds from consensus sportsbooks:

Angels vs. Rays Odds, Run Line, Total

Run Line:

• Angels: +1.5 (-125)
• Rays: -1.5 (+105)

Moneyline:

• Angels: +170
• Rays: -200

Total:

• 7 (Over -120/Under +100)

Angels vs. Rays Prediction and Pick

This total feels too low for my liking. Yes, the Angels offense is relatively hopeless, 29th in wRC+ in August, but the team may not be able to slow down the Tampa Bay offense.

Tucker Davidson draws the start on Monday for the Halos, who has a 6.75 ERA in five starts this season. Tampa Bay is ninth in batting average against lefties like Davidson and the Angels have a bottom five ERA out of the bullpen backing him up. With the Angels inability to slow down this Rays offense, I expect this team to hit the quota needed to go over the total.

Keep an eye on Shohei Ohtani's availability for Monday's game. He left his start against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday early due to a stomach virus.

The Angles will face Jeffrey Springs, another lefty, who has a sterling 2.52 ERA this season, but is he a bit overrated?

He has a FIP of 3.23 this season and is has posted an incredibly low home run rate this season compared to his past two seasons. Over the past two years, Springs has a home run to fly ball rate north of 22%. This season it is half of that at 11.7%. While the high end is too high, the low end is too low, and some regression could be coming to end the season.

LEAN: OVER 7 (-120)

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