MLB · Fri, Aug 14 · 9:38 PM

Royals at Angels

O/U 9 · RL Royals -1.5

Gary's pick

Angels ML-103

CONF 58%

Result

LLostFinal 7-6

The read

Friday night in Anaheim, clear skies, a light breeze carrying toward right, and two clubs separated by one game. The Angels bring a three-game winning streak home against a Royals team trying to stop a four-game slide.

I’m betting that Grayson Rodriguez’s recent progress matters more than his brutal season line. He has 20 strikeouts over his last three starts, and Kansas City’s order gets thin quickly after Bobby Witt Jr. and the scorching Jac Caglianone—especially with Salvador Perez scratched. On the other side, Mike Trout is driving the ball again, and five left-handed bats get cracks at Seth Lugo, who has been vulnerable to lefties and owns a 5.31 road ERA.

Rodriguez’s home history makes this uncomfortable, which is why the price is playable instead of expensive. But if the starters leave this game close, Los Angeles has the bullpen I trust more; Kansas City’s late-inning arms have spent the season turning leads into emergencies. At essentially even money, I’ll put the $100 on the Angels to keep rolling.

Props on this game

2

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