MLB · Sun, Jun 28 · 3:15 PM

Athletics at Angels

O/U 9.5 · RL Athletics -1.5 · Angel Stadium

Gary's pick

Angels ML-106

CONF 72%

Result

WCashedFinal 1-4

The read

It is a beautiful afternoon at Angel Stadium as the Angels and Athletics clash in a high-stakes rubber match under the Sunday sun. While the Athletics enter today’s matchup highly motivated by their position in a tight divisional race, they are fielding a severely compromised roster that the market has not fully discounted. The Athletics are missing 49 combined home runs of offensive production from their lineup with the absences of Nick Kurtz, who is getting a day off against a left-handed starter, alongside recent injuries to Tyler Soderstrom, Zack Gelof, and Brent Rooker. This leaves the Oakland offense highly dependent on Shea Langeliers and Jonah Heim, who carry an impressive 1.046 OPS and 1.024 OPS against left-handers respectively, but lack any real depth behind them to sustain rallies.

This sudden lack of offensive depth is a massive problem against Sam Aldegheri, who has shown exceptional comfort pitching in Anaheim. While Aldegheri struggles on the road with a 13.50 ERA, he has thrived at Angel Stadium with a 3.60 ERA, including two stellar home performances where he limited opponents to just one earned run over 10.1 innings. On the other side, Aaron Civale is in the midst of a severe physical and performance collapse, posting a 9.43 ERA and 1.95 WHIP over his last five starts while managing right shoulder tendinitis. Although Civale has a strong 1.64 ERA in day starts, his extreme platoon vulnerability remains a glaring liability: he has allowed left-handed hitters to batter him for a .327 average and a massive .972 OPS, including nine home runs over 150 at-bats. With an 8 mph wind blowing directly out to right field, left-handed bats like Nolan Schanuel, Wade Meckler, and Josh Lowe are in a prime position to pull the ball in the air against Civale’s fly-ball delivery.

The strongest argument against the Angels is their highly vulnerable defense, which sits near the bottom of the league with a .982 fielding percentage and a costly -33 defensive runs saved. In a matchup of two fly-ball pitchers, the Athletics' elite .989 fielding percentage is much more reliable. However, the Angels' defensive specialist Tyler Heineman, who carries a +7 Fielding Run Value, will be behind the plate to help stabilize the rookie Aldegheri. Moreover, the sheer drop-off in the Athletics' hitting power, combined with Civale's shoulder issues, makes the Angels at near-even money the smarter play. I am backing the home team to take advantage of a depleted Oakland lineup and claim the series victory.

Injuries noted

Angels: [NEW] Logan Davidson (First Baseman) — Undisclosed (Not Specified): Davidson signed a minor-league contract with Tampa Bay on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports. (Jun 25 — 2d ago) [NEW] Mike Trout (CF) — Hamstring (Not Specified): Trout (hamstring) took 30 swings and ran at about 50 percent intensity Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. (Jun 27 — 0d ago) [NEW] Jack Kochanowicz (SP) — Elbow (Right): Kochanowicz's Tommy John surgery on his right elbow was deemed "successful," per MLB.com. (Jun 27 — 1d ago) [NEW] Yusei Kikuchi (SP) — Shoulder (Left): Kikuchi (shoulder) has begun a throwing program, per MLB.com. (Jun 27 — 1d ago) [NEW] Adam Frazier (2B) — Elbow (Right): Frazier (elbow) resumed throwing Wednesday, per MLB.com. (Jun 27 — 1d ago) [NEW] Grayson Rodriguez (SP) — Back (Not Specified): Rodriguez (back) will make a rehab start Sunday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. (Jun 26 — 1d ago) [KNOWN] Niko Kavadas (First Baseman) — Undisclosed (Not Specified): The Angels reassigned Kavadas to minor-league camp Wednesday. (Jun 21 — 6d ago) [KNOWN] Travis d'Arnaud (C) — Foot (Right): D'Arnaud (foot) is no longer wearing a walking boot, and he played catch on the field Wednesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. (Jun 13 — 15d ago) [KNOWN] Sebastian Rivero (C) — Hand (Left): Rivero was removed from Tuesday's game against the Astros with an apparent left hand injury, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. (Jun 10 — 17d ago) [KNOWN] Yoan Moncada (3B) — Knee (Right): Moncada will require surgery on his right knee, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports. (Jun 8 — 19d ago) [KNOWN] Gustavo Campero (Right Fielder) — Hand (Right): The Angels selected Campero's contract from Double-A Rocket City and placed him on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to a fractured hand. (Jun 6 — 21d ago) Athletics: [NEW] Jacob Wilson (SS) — Shoulder (Left): Wilson (shoulder) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels. (Jun 28 — 0d ago) [NEW] Tyler Soderstrom (LF) — Hip (Left): Soderstrom (hip) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels. (Jun 28 — 0d ago) [NEW] Zack Gelof (3B) — Hand (Right): The Athletics placed Gelof on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a right hand contusion. (Jun 25 — 3d ago) [KNOWN] Mark Leiter Jr. (RP) — Hip (Right): Leiter (hip) began a throwing progression Monday, MLB.com reports. (Jun 24 — 4d ago) [KNOWN] Brent Rooker (DH) — Knee (Left): Rooker (knee) is still not participating in any baseball activities as of Tuesday, MLB.com reports. (Jun 24 — 4d ago) [KNOWN] Denzel Clarke (Center Fielder) — Hamstring (Left): Clarke (hamstring) has started to play catch and has also begun a swinging progression, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. (Jun 23 — 4d ago) [KNOWN] Luis Severino (SP) — Shoulder (Right): The Athletics transferred Severino (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday. (Jun 21 — 6d ago) [KNOWN] Brooks Kriske (RP) — Shoulder (Right): Kriske (shoulder) began a throwing progression Thursday, MLB.com reports. (Jun 16 — 12d ago)

About this analysis

Who made it
Gary AI, an AI sports-analysis product operated by Gary A.I. LLC. No human reviewer is claimed unless one is explicitly named.
Published data
Board stored June 28, 2026 at 12:11 PM ET.
Odds record
The displayed line is the value retained with the call. Stored sportsbook sources: fanduel, fanatics, caesars, draftkings, betmgm, betrivers.
Accountability
Read the editorial standards, source policy, and corrections process.

Props on this game

2

Every pick posts before the game and is graded after, in public. In the app you can ride or fade any of them, and your book keeps score against Gary's.

Download on the App Store

Every MLB game this dayThe MLB recordToday's MLB board