MLB Baseball
2012-04-14 - LA Angels at New York Yankees
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Saturday 14 April 2012 - First Pitch 1:05pm ET
6:05pm (British Standard Time)
Preview
Game 1 of the series between these two American League powerhouses ended in the a 5-0 win for the New York Yankees (4-3) as they go for the series win against the LA Angels (2-5).
The Yankees got on the board early yesterday and then saw Hiroki Kuroda protect the lead into the 9th innings, but the Angels will feel they can get something going tonight as they go up against Phil Hughes.
Hughes allowed 2 runs from 5 hits in a 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in his first start and he didn't reach the 6th innings in that game, while taking the decision. The pitcher has not pitched against the Angels since 2010, but he has a 1-1 career record against them from 3 starts and a 7.16 ERA.
The pitcher has also struggled in this ballpark- Yankee Stadium is known for being a hitters paradise, but Hughes will be disappointed that he finished the 2011 season with a 1-2 record here from 7 starts and with a 7.83 ERA.
While the Angels will feel positive that their bats can get going tonight, they may also be boosted by the fact that their big signing, outside of Albert Pujols, will be taking the mound tonight. CJ Wilson will take the ball for LA and he will feel confident that he can help his team having had success against the stars of the Yankees batting line up in the past.
Wilson has a 0-1 record from 4 career starts and a 4.43 ERA against New York, but he allowed just 2 runs from 8 innings pitched in his lone start here last season. The pitcher also has the American League best road ERA since the start of last season.
His debut for the Angels was successful as he gave up just 1 run from 3 hits in a 5-1 win over the Minnesota Twins and he also received the decision in that game.
Wilson will be hoping he can limit the Yankees and the Angels bats fire again after being blanked last night. I am sure LA will feel confident they can after scoring 19 runs in their previous 3 games before yesterdays loss.
Head to Head
The Yankees have now won 4 in a row at home against the LA Angels.
Prediction
Yesterday I took the Yankees to win the game on the run line and it looked a little comfortable for them to do so, but tonight I am going the other way and backing the LA Angels to level the series behind their top pitching recruit in the off-season.
Phil Hughes pitched decently for the Yankees in his opening start for them, but was not provided in any run support. However, he has had a tough time at home in what has been a batter friendly park and the Angels definitely have the batting power to cause him some problems.
It is never wise going against the Yankees batting line up, especially considering they seem to be warming up a little in the last couple of games, but CJ Wilson has the pitches to cause problems and I think he will help the road team to cause a mini-upset.
The Pick :
New York Yankees 3-6 LA Angels
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the LA Angels @ 2.10
