Ohtani-Less Angels Welcome Red Sox for Home Opener
Red Sox vs Angels Odds: Boston Off to 5-2 Start ATS
Winners of four straight, the Los Angeles Angels return to Angel Stadium on Friday (9:38 p.m. ET) for their home opener against the Boston Red Sox.
Oddsmakers essentially see it as a pick ’em. Boston opened at -112 on the moneyline, with Los Angeles at -108. Meanwhile, the projected total is 9 with a slight edge to the Under at -120. Bettors can get the Over at +100.
What can bettors expect? Read on as we break down both teams and assess the Red Sox vs Angels odds in our MLB series preview.
Boston Red Sox vs Los Angeles Angels 
Location: Angel Stadium; Los Angeles
Day/Time:
Streaming: NESN
Red Sox vs Angels Betting Trends
The Boston Red Sox covered the run line in each of their first five games and are 5-2 ATS overall. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are 3-4 against the Over/Under. Conversely, the Los Angeles Angels are 4-2 against both the spread and the Over/Under.
Be sure to remember these betting trends when assessing the Red Sox vs Angels odds.
So Far, So Good for BoSox
While expectations are relatively low, Boston is off to an encouraging start after sweeping a three-game set from the lowly Athletics. The Red Sox are now 5-2, having outscored Seattle and Oakland by a combined 15 runs over the first two legs of their 10-game road trip to open the season.
The Red Sox’s pitching has been impressive early, combining for an MLB-best 1.54 ERA to go with two shutouts. Their staff has recorded 77 strikeouts in 64.1 innings.
The Red Sox clearly have their work cut out for themselves in the American League East, arguably baseball’s toughest division. On the heels of a 78-84 finish in 2023, they are the division’s biggest longshot at +1100. Along those same lines, the Red Sox are -270 to miss the playoffs. Bettors should take that into account when making their future MLB picks and parlays.
Can they surprise? It’s certainly possible if their staff continues to deliver. But the Red Sox are also putting a lot of trust in unproven commodities like Houck, who had a 5.01 ERA in 21 starts last season.
Conversely, Boston finished sixth in MLB in team average (.258) and 11th in runs scored (772) per MLB scores. So long as third baseman Rafael Devers stays healthy, Boston’s lineup should remain potent.
Trout Upholding His End of Bargain
No Shohei Ohtani, no problem? Not quite, but the Angels have certainly been competitive out of the gate without the two-way superstar. After allowing 24 runs over the first two games, the Angels responded with four straight wins to go 4-2 on their season-opening road trip. That includes a three-game sweep of Miami.
Outfielders Mike Trout and Taylor Ward have both been hot at the plate, slugging three homers apiece. If Trout, in particular, can stay healthy and maintain that production, the Angels may be able to hang around the AL West longer than expected. The 11-time All-Star averaged only 79 games in the last three seasons because of injuries, causing his AL MVP odds to drop to +2000. In 82 games last year, Trout slashed .263/.367/.490 with 18 home runs and 44 RBI.
Trout was the preseason AL MVP favorite every year from 2013-21, winning the award in 2014, 2016, and 2019. At 20/1, he now faces his longest preseason odds in more than a decade.
Expectations have also fallen for Los Angeles, a +750 longshot to make the playoffs.
Without a bona fide ace atop the rotation, pitching is a concern. Left-handers Patrick Sandoval and Tyler Anderson are the Angels’ most established starters, and both had ERAs above 4.00 last season.
Series Probables
Game 1
Friday, 9:38 p.m. ET
Kutter Crawford vs Griffin Canning
Crawford was terrific in his season debut, limiting Seattle to one unearned run over six innings in a 4-3, 10-inning loss. The right-hander gave up only three hits while striking out seven. Los Angeles will counter with Canning, who was tagged for five runs over five innings in a 13-4 loss to Baltimore.
Keep that in mind when analyzing the Red Sox vs Angels odds.
Game 2
Saturday, 9:38 p.m. ET
Garrett Whitlock vs Reid Detmers
Whitlock is coming off a 5-1 win over the Mariners in which he allowed only one run over five innings while striking out eight and walking none. He’ll oppose Detmers, who was equally impressive against Baltimore. The southpaw gave up only two hits and a run in five frames in a 4-1 victory.
Game 3
Sunday, 4:07 p.m. ET
Tanner Houck vs Chase Silseth
Houck was dominant to open the season against Oakland, throwing six shutout innings while striking out 10 in a 9-0 victory. It was Houck’s first double-digit strikeout game since Sept. 26, 2000, against Atlanta and only the second of his MLB career. The Angeles will counter with Silseth, who gave up four runs (three earned) over three innings in a 7-4 loss to the Marlins.
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