by Chuck Sommers
Thursday, Sep 02, 2021
Game time: 9:38 p.m. ET
Venue: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Where to watch: Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports West
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Angels -225, Rangers +185; Over 8.5 -105, Under 8.5 -115
BetMGM: Angels -208, Rangers +170
Caesars: Angels -213, Rangers +193
Season record
Rangers: 47-86 (Last place, AL West)
Angels: 66-68 (4th place, AL West)
Larry Ness closed August having earned +$21,301 (at $100/unit) in MLB since Opening Day. He opened September with a 2-1 Wednesday (+$857), highlighted by his 10* win on Boston over the Tampa Bay Rays. 'Light' Thursday MLB card but you "won't want to miss" Larry's 10* Division Total of the Year (all O/U plays 8-4-1 in August MLB).
Rangers - Angels preview and analysis
Recent form
Rangers: 4-6 in last 10
Angels: 4-6 in last 10
It’s just like the Texas Rangers to give fans hope and go on a little winning streak, only to implode in the ninth inning like they did against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.
And Friday won’t be any more fun against the Los Angeles Angels. Because not only is Shohei Ohtani hitting that day, he’ll be pitching against the last-place Rangers at Angel Stadium in a battle of the two worst teams in the American League West.
Ohtani was scratched from his start Tuesday against the New York Yankees so that he could rest his right hand after it being hit by a pitch the day prior.
The season Ohtani has put together with 42 home runs and nearly 100 RBI is already one of the more memorable statlines from an Angels player not named Mike Trout. But the pitching aspect has just been tremendous. You look around the league and see so many starting pitchers having ERAs over 4.00 and still hanging on to a rotation spot.
Ohtani is over here with an 8-1 record and has a 3.00 ERA, and 127 strikeouts. Not only has he been one of the hardest outs in baseball, but he’s mowing people down throughout this whole season. Tack on a WHIP of 1.06, and it’s just mind-boggling what he’s doing.
The Rangers will send young pitcher Glenn Otto to the mound to face the Angels hitters for his second start. Last time out as the Rangers starter, Otto went five scoreless innings and had seven strikeouts Aug. 27 against the Houston Astros. Unfortunately, the Texas bullpen let him down and it ended up a loss.
This is a great spot for the Angels to get back in the win column after an impressive stretch against the Yankees. And anytime Ohtani pitches, or is even slugging, it’s bound to be a show.
Prediction
If the Rangers were half as good on the road as they were at home, it’d be a much better season. Texas is 16-49 away from Globe Life Field as a heavy underdog, and with Ohtani at center stage, it should be a moment to fire up the Angels. Angels win 7-1.
Betting trends
The Rangers are 8-25 (-9.1 net games) when an underdog of +175 to +250.
Los Angeles is 16-9 when the money line favors them at -150 or more, 9-2 when it’s between -175 and -250.
Players to watch
Rangers: Such a dull season is in need of bright spots. Adolis Garcia is one of them. The Texas rookie is one homer from 30.
Angels: Focusing on the mound slightly, Shohei Ohtani has gone at least six innings in six of his last seven starts; he lasted only five in his last start, a loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 25.
Projected lineups
Rangers:
Leody Taveras (S) CF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) SS
Adolis Garcia (R) RF
DJ Peters (R) LF
Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B
Nick Solak (R) 2B
Charlie Culberson (R) 3B
Yohel Pozo (R) DH
Jose Trevino (R) C
Angels:
David Fletcher (R) 2B
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Phil Gosselin (R) 3B
Jared Walsh (L) 1B
Justin Upton (R) LF
Brandon Marsh (L) CF
Max Stassi (R) C
Jo Adell (R) RF
Jack Mayfield (R) SS
Probable starting pitchers: Glenn Otto (TEX) vs. Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
Statistical leaders
Rangers:
Batting average: Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.263)
Hits: Isiah Kiner-Falefa (140)
Home runs: Adolis Garcia (29)
RBI: Adolis Garcia (77)
Stolen bases: Isiah Kiner-Falefa (16)
Wins: Jordan Lyles (7)
Saves: Joe Barlow (3)
ERA: Jordan Lyles (5.63)
Team Y:
Batting average: David Fletcher (.291)
Hits: David Fletcher (152)
Home runs: Shohei Ohtani (42)
RBI: Shohei Ohtani (90)
Stolen bases: Shohei Ohtani (22)
Wins: Shohei Ohtani (8)
Saves: Raisel Iglesias (29)
ERA: Shohei Ohtani (3.00)
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
