Angels @ Athletics Preview

With the Texas Rangers dropping three games in a row, the Oakland Athletics are now five games ahead of the Rangers and are firmly the number one team in the AL West.  However, their division rivals the Los Angeles Angels are proving to be a thorn in their side.

The Angels handedly defeated the A’s 8-3 in the first game of the series.  Since then the A’s have defeated the Angels by two runs in each other next games putting the series at 2-1.

The Angels are looking to finish the series at a stalemate and with Tommy Hanson starting this may be their best chance to tie up this series.

Tommy Hanson will be taking the mound for the Angles.  Hanson’s last outing prompted Angels manager, Mike Scioscia, to say, “That’s the best stuff I’ve seen Tommy have.”

On his last time out he pitched 5 1/3 innings to a no-decision.  He consistently throw balls between 92 and 94 mph.  Hanson will need to have a similar outing this time as the A’s will keep the Angels runs low with a pitching staff that has posted and ERA of 2.87 over 25 games.  Hanson’s overall ERA is at 4.75.

Jarrod Parker will be starting for the Athletics.  He has put up a quality start in 11 of his last 12 games and has only allowed five hits or few in 10 starts.

Parker took a no-decision in his last game allowing one earned on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in seven innings.  His ERA is at 3.79.

Oakland are the favorites according to Bovada with a moneyline set at -160.  The Angels line is set at +145.  The game starts at 4:05 p.m. ET.