Los Angeles Angels vs. Baltimore Orioles (7/9/22) Starting Lineups, Betting Odds, Prediction
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Nobody would’ve thought two months ago that when the Orioles and Angels met this week, it would be Baltimore with the better record. The Orioles entered Friday tied for baseball’s longest win streak and only 5 games out of a wild card spot, already up to 40 wins after winning just 52 games in 2021. They’ll look to extend their run of success with Dean Kremer on the mound, facing Patrick Sandoval and the flailing Angels.
Let’s take a look at starting lineups, betting odds, and predictions for Saturday’s matchup.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Baltimore Orioles Betting Odds
The Angels are set as -140 favorites on the money line despite the Orioles’ recent success, with the over/under set at 8.5. It’s fair to be hesitant about the Orioles, even after their win streak. Streaks don’t last forever, as much as the Angels might’ve felt their own losing streak did, and Baltimore will be going up against LA’s most reliable starter not named Shohei Ohtani in Patrick Sandoval. The Angels will have to break out of a prolonged offensive slump if they want to get back in the win column.
Los Angeles Angels Starting Lineup
RF T. Ward R
CF M. Trout R
DH S. Ohtani L
3B D. MacKinnon R
1B J. Walsh L
2B L. Rengifo S
C M. Stassi R
LF B. Marsh L
SS A. Velazquez S
Los Angeles Angels vs. Dean Kremer
Pitching looked like a colossal weakness for the Orioles entering the season, but one of the reasons this team has stayed relevant is the progress made by guys like Dean Kremer. Kremer only joined the rotation last month but looks like he’s earned his place with a 2.48 ERA, 3.41 FIP, and 1.29 WHIP over 32.2 innings. Kremer had a 7.55 ERA across 13 starts last season and has cut down on both walks and hits this season. The 26-year-old allowed 2.9 HR/9 in 2021 and now has that number down to just 0.6.
Kremer was coming off three consecutive scoreless starts when he faced the Rangers on Monday and was hit hard for 5 earned runs in 4.2 IP. Luckily, he gets to face an Angels offense averaging less than 2 runs/game over its last six. Nobody is hitting for the Angels right now – Taylor Ward leads the team in OPS over that six-game stretch despite batting only .211 in that span. Mike Trout is on a 1-for-22 stretch, and Ohtani has been held in check. Camden Yards no longer makes it easy for hitters to find a rhythm after the left field wall was pushed way back, and I’d be worried about the Angels’ ability to string together hits without relying on power.
Baltimore Orioles Starting Lineup
CF C. Mullins L
DH T. Mancini R
RF A. Hays R
1B R. Mountcastle R
LF A. Santander S
C A. Rutschman S
3B R. Urias R
2B R. Odor L
SS J. Mateo R
Baltimore Orioles vs. Patrick Sandoval
The Angels’ rotation has suffered with the struggles of Michael Lorenzen and Reid Detmers, but Patrick Sandoval has been a bright spot along with Ohtani. Sandoval has a 3.09 ERA over 13 starts (70 IP), with a 3.19 FIP and 1.41 WHIP. That’s an usually high WHIP considering the rest of his numbers, and you can blame walks – Sandoval is averaging 4.1 BB/9, walking multiple batters in all but two of his starts.
Sandoval struggled against the Astros last week in a letdown after a great month of June. The Orioles will be less of a challenge but not an easy one, especially with Cedric Mullins now playing like did in his breakout 2021. Mullins has a 1.048 OPS over the past week, while Ryan Mountcastle also continues to hit like an all-star. Trey Mancini, Anthony Santander, and even Rougned Odor, as the Rangers recently found out, are all power threats to be careful with. The Orioles don’t walk very much, ranking 25th in the league, so Sandoval’s control issues might not be a huge concern.
Los Angeles Angels vs. Baltimore Orioles Picks & Prediction
My pick: Orioles Moneyline (-120)
I’m cautious to pick the hot team over the struggling team because win streaks don’t last forever – especially not in baseball. But the Angels have been so bad for so long now that I have a hard time putting any faith in them. Los Angeles is 11-29 over its last 40 games. The Orioles are 19-14 since June. These two are close in the standings but haven’t been anywhere close to each other in terms of performance over the last month-plus. With both starters coming off a tough outing and carrying bounce-back potential, I anticipate scoring being low, and I would much rather put my trust in the Orioles to come out on top.
