Rob Senior previews the New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Angels on Monday, July 17. He provides his expert prediction as well as best bets.
Date & Time: Monday, July 15, 7:10 P.M. Eastern
Moneyline: New York Yankees (+100) vs. Los Angeles Angels (-120)
Runline: Yankees +1.5 (-190)/Angels -1.5 (+160)
Total: Over 8 (-120)/Under 8 (+100)
Where: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Weather: 79 degrees, 5% chance of rain
Yankees vs. Angels: Preview and Picks
The Bronx Bombers stay out West and return to American League play against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Monday night.
The Yankees find themselves in a battle for the American League East title in 2023. The Angels on the other hand, are trying to figure out their direction as the MLB trade deadline approaches.
New York Yankees Preview
The Yankees are weathering Aaron Judge’s potential long-term injury, as they enter play on Monday at a record of 50-44.
Despite some relative struggles over the weekend, one bright spot for the Pinstripes was the breakout series for OF Giancarlo Stanton. He mashed a pair of home runs and found himself on base in six out of 12 plate appearances.
The middle infield combination of 2B Gleyber Torres and rookie SS Anthony Volpe are pacing the Yankees offense in Judge’s absence. New York doesn’t hit for a high average (.231 as a team) but a half-dozen player with double-digit home runs suggests they’re making the most of the hits they accumulate.
On the hill for the Yankees is LHP Luis Severino, who endured a nightmarish first half of this season (1-4, 7.38 ERA). Severino has allowed three or more earned runs in four of his last five starts and has been touched for 11 home runs over 42 innings of pitching this year.
Los Angeles Angels Preview
The story starts and ends with Shohei Ohtani, the unquestioned best two-way player in the sport.
While Ohtani won’t take the mound Monday, he is the lynchpin in the Angels’ offense with an average of .299 to go with 33 HR, 72 RBI, and an out-of-this-world 1.040 OPS.
His partner in crime, Mike Trout, is missing in action with an injury right now. However, it didn’t stop the Angels from racking up 25 runs in three games against one of the deepest pitching staffs in the game (Houston) this past weekend.
On the hill for the Angels is right hander Griffin Canning. He enters with a 6-4 record as well as a 4.62 ERA.
New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Angels Prediction
Severino is struggling, and it doesn’t look like an accident.
He didn’t make his first start until May and was strong vs. San Diego and Cincinnati. Since then, it’s been seven starts ranging from strong to horrendous, with the net result a 9.38 ERA.
His velocity is down, he’s coming off an injury, and the Yankees just got done a three-game series in Colorado. This is notoriously tough on pitchers while making them use their bullpen repeatedly.
For the Angels, Canning has been dependable in the sense that he gives you a chance to win – if your offense can come to life. Against Severino, we’re betting Ohtani and friends will do just that. The Angels bullpen, like New York’s, is anything but fresh after a high-scoring weekend series against the Astros.
Prediction: New York Yankees/Los Angeles Angels over 8 runs (-120)
