Free MLB Picks Los Angeles Angels: Season-Long Handicapping and Specialization 4/7/2023

by Joey House - 4/7/2023

Los Angeles Angels daily betting picks Mike Trout

This baseball season, I will be analyzing the Los Angeles Angels and their opponent and formulate a wagering strategy to maximize profit. While not every investment will be in the Angels' favor, what will be in YOUR favor is my in-depth knowledge of the American League West and MLB in general as we focus on the strongest selections. Let Doc's Sports be your guide through the marathon that is better known as the Major League Baseball season.

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The Los Angeles Angels (4-2) play their first home game of the season Friday night when they kick off a 3-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays (4-3). RHP Chris Bassitt (0-1 24.30) will take the mound for the visiting Blue Jays, while Patrick Sandoval (1-0 1.80) takes the hill for the Angels.

Bassitt is making his second start of the season. He was roughed up pretty badly in his first outing, a 9-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He only managed to make it through three and a third inning, giving up 10 hits, nine earned runs, and surrendered four home runs, two to the Card's DH Nolan Gorman.

Sandoval had a much smoother game, going five innings while only allowing two hits and one earned run. He struck out two while walking two as well.

The Angels will be without the use of their 3rd basemen, Anthony Rendon, who is serving the last of his four-game suspension for unsportsmanlike conduct with a fan. They managed all right without him, going 2-1 while scoring an average of 4.3 runs per game.

Toronto is batting a blistering team .292 average, which is 48 points higher than the league average. Matt Chapman is 13-27 (.481) with six doubles and seven runs batted in. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is also above the .400 mark, going 11-27 (.407) with two home runs and six RBIs. They have a team total of 46 strikeouts and 24 walks, both better than the league average. The Blue Jays aren't smashing the ball over the fence, but they ARE hitting for an impressive average and making contact.

Los Angeles is hitting a team average of .243, one below the league average of .244. Taylor Ward is leading the team, hitting 10-27 (.370) with two homers and six RBIs. Mike Trout is batting 7-19 (.368) with two doubles, one home run, and eight walks. He leads the American League in On-Base-Percentage (OBP) is .571.

The moneyline for this game is currently set at Toronto +110 or LAA -130, and the total is set at nine runs.

I think that the under is the strongest play here. Bassitt is a career 3.55 ERA pitcher who clearly didn't have his best stuff against a Cardinal team that is tearing the cover off the baseball. Sandoval is dialed in right now as well, and I could see this being a pitcher's duel until the 7th when the bullpens take over. Both bullpens are solid, if not spectacular, and I see this easily being in the realm of 3-2 or 4-3.

I also really like Mike Trout's Total Base prop bet. It's currently sitting at 1.5 bases, and the over is at +110. In 19 plate appearances, Trout is hitting 7-17 (.412) with 2 doubles and a homer. Always a strong hitter in the months of March/April (lifetime .317 average with a .600 slugging percentage), added to the fact that he hits Bassitt well, +110 almost feels like a gift.

That's the beauty of early season lines. They can sometimes be slightly softer because the current body of work isn't as plentiful.

Pick: Under 9.0 TWO UNITS -110

Pick: Mike Trout's total base prop over 1.5 ONE UNIT +110

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Free MLB Picks Los Angeles Angels: Season-Long Handicapping and Specialization 4/7/2023

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