Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles: Angels Series Betting Preview & Analysis
Sox Looking to Pound Baseball on Waffling Angels

Our Sox vs Angels betting preview with a look through today’s MLB lines shows the Angels as a small -115 favorite in game one. The oddsmakers expect a high-scoring game with the total set at 9.5 (o -114). Boston is among the MLB leaders with a .268 batting average, placing them third in Major League Baseball in addition to fourth in runs batted in. The Angels are second in MLB with 17 saves. Both teams are neck in neck in hits with Boston’s 433 (4th) and Los Angeles’ 429 (5th). From a statistical standpoint, this should be an incredible series. Let’s continue our Red Sox vs Angels betting preview by putting a spotlight on both clubs.
Houck Looks to Improve on Unimpressive Numbers vs LA
There are some question marks in addition to a new face in the Sox lineup to start this series, but this will come down to pitching as it almost always does. Right-hander Tanner Houck (3-3, 5.48 era) will get the ball in game one.
Houck has had his struggles in 2023, failing to give up less than three earned runs in six of his eight starts. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t pitched well enough to win, giving up just 41 hits in 42.2 innings, but it’s his recent form that gives us some concern when trying to handicap tonight’s game.
Over his last three starts, the former Missouri Tiger has allowed 13 earned runs and 16 hits in 16 innings. The Sox have scored more than enough runs for Houck, averaging 6.62 per game which is why the team is 5-3 when Houck gets the ball.
The Sox are second in baseball with 696 units won behind a 26-21 record, only the Orioles (+1025 units are better). The Sox are a slight dog but that’s where they’ve been their most dangerous with 638 of their 696 units won coming when Boston is a dog. The Angels are just 5-5 in their last 10 games.
Barria Gets First Start of Season
Jamie Barria (1-1, 1.96) will get his first start of the season against the Sox whom he has never beaten in his six-year career (0-3, 4.73). Granted he hasn’t had many chances with just 17 starts, 11 coming in 2011, in his entire career.
Barria earned the start behind terrific work out of the pen, allowing just 10 hits and one earned run in his last 13.2 innings while striking out 11. The righty from Panama hasn’t allowed an earned run since April 24th against Oakland.
Boston is expected to have Justin Turner back in a line-up that has been as good as anyone in baseball this season. The former Cal-State Fullerton star had to leave Friday’s game against the Padres with left knee soreness. Turner is hitting .279 with five jacks to go with 18 RBI overall, but in the month of May, he’s hitting .316 with three homers and nine RBIs.
The 38-year-old Turner has dealt with various injuries between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Red Sox, but he is a guy who can give you 20-25 homers if he stays healthy enough to stay in the line-up over 150 games. Let’s conclude our Red Sox vs Angels series preview with our selection for this game and the series.
Long-Time Betting Technique In-Play
There are some series that we approach with an old technique that has worked over the years and because we invented it, or at least we think we did, it’s simply named ‘Win and Get-Out’.
Now we’re sure we weren’t the first to think of this but there is a certain amount of sharp handicapping that has to go into our system.
You have to identify a series that is so close that it will be almost impossible for one team to sweep the other. Our goal, bet on the Angels until they win and then get out. Neither team can afford a sweep and both teams have been reliable on the moneyline.
There are a few trends that force us to favor the Angels. Boston is just 6-13 in their last 19 games against right-handed starters and 9-23 when their opponents score less than two runs in their previous game.
The Sox have been less reliable against the better teams in the league with a 7-22 record on the road against teams over .500, making our official selection the Los Angeles Angels -115 in game one. If this hits take your winnings and move away from what should be three close games. That concludes our Sox vs Angels series betting preview, all the best with your wagers.
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