Baltimore Orioles vs LA Angels: Odds & Insights

One of the big early surprises in the American League this season has been Angels lefty Reid Detmers as he has looked like a Cy Young candidate. This from a guy who was 4-10 last year with 4.48 ERA. We think Detmers is going to come crashing back to earth very soon, perhaps as soon as Monday vs. Baltimore

2024 MLB Expert Analysis Baltimore at LA | MyBookie Sportsbook MLB Week 4

Why Bet on Baltimore Orioles?

Pretty funny moment for Orioles closer Craig Kimbrell on Saturday in Kansas City. He nailed down his 422nd career save at the end of the Orioles’ 9-7 win to tie legendary closer Billy Wagner for seventh on the all-time saves list, so it was an important baseball. That ball landed in teammate Colton Cowser’s glove for the third out, and what did he do with it?

He threw it behind him and it landed in the fountain at Kauffman Stadium. There’s no video of the ball after it left Cowser’s glove, but there is video of Cowser throwing the ball behind him with reckless abandon. Cowser, who entered as a replacement when Austin Hays’ calf tightened, had caught Salvador Perez’s fly in front of the warning track. When Cowser realized what he had done, he ran back onto the field and searched. “There were two balls in the fountains, and the other one was really old,” he said.

Gunnar Henderson leads all hitters with a 96.8 mph average exit velo. Eight of the Orioles’ wins this season have been in comeback fashion, the second-most in MLB behind Atlanta. The Orioles have gone 98 consecutive regular-season series of at least two decisions (no ties) without being swept. That is Stat cast the fourth-longest regular-season streak in MLB history, trailing the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals (124), 1906-09 Chicago Cubs (115), and 1903-05 New York Giants (105).

It’s righty Albert Suarez on the hill Monday. Suárez inked a minor league deal with the Orioles in the offseason and showed promise in spring camp where he posted a 5.17 ERA, 1.21 WHIP with an impressive 19/2 K/BB ratio across 15 2/3 innings. Suarez tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Twins in his return to the majors last Wednesday. Suarez struck out four and walked none while throwing just 75 pitches. He had a 5.87 ERA in his three outings in Triple-A, but he was also very efficient there, posting a 17/1 K/BB ratio in 15 1/3 innings. It looks like he should be a capable stopgap starter for the Orioles with Kyle Bradish and John Means on rehab assignments.

The Orioles lead the season series 2-1 after taking the opening series of the regular season vs. LA. The O’s won the first two games of the regular season by a combined total of 24-7, before Halos picked up their first win of the year by a 4-1 score at Camden Yards on March 31.

Baltimore Betting Odds to Win
MLB Money Line

Week 4 MLB Vegas Lines Odds Subject to Change	SPREAD	MONEYLINE	TOTAL
Baltimore	+0.5	-110	O 4.5
LA	-0.5	-125	U 4.5
MLB First 5 Inning Lines \| AL Divisional Odds \| NL Divisional Odds

Why Bet on Los Angeles Angels?

What was the worst contract given out in MLB history? It very well might have been in December 2019 when the Angels signed former Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon to a seven-year, $245 million free-agent deal. It included a full no-trade clause and no opt-out clauses. Rendon was an excellent player in the 2019 season with Washington and led the franchise to its first World Series title, but he has been an injury-plagued mega-bust with the Angels and is on the injured list again.

Rendon, who has been swinging a hot bat after a slow start to the year, hit a grounder to Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz on Saturday and beat out the throw for an infield single but injured his left hamstring while running to first base. Head athletic trainer Mike Frostad and manager Ron Washington met him at first base and he was removed for pinch-runner Zach Neto.

He’ll be further evaluated by team doctors on Monday when the club returns to Anaheim. The 33-year-old was 0-for-19 through his first five games but batted .357/.413/.411 (20-for-56) with three doubles and three RBIs over his last 14 games, including his infield single on Saturday. The power is not there — Rendon has hit 13 home runs in over 700 plate appearances since 2021 — but he was hitting for average and getting on base of late.

“[I’m feeling] not too great,” Rendon said. “Frustration. Anger. Mad. Any of those adjectives you want to use. I think that’s one of the most frustrating parts, right? I’m starting to barrel the ball more, and when I didn’t I was just starting to find holes. Like earlier in the season, I was barreling it and they were catching it. I think that’s the most frustrating part, I was getting into a groove and of course this happens.”

It’s ace lefty Reid Detmers on the mound – well, he wasn’t expected to be the 2024 ace but has been so far at 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA. Detmers didn’t factor into the decision last Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and one walk over 5.1 innings against the Rays. He struck out four. Although Detmers didn’t reach seven strikeouts for the first time all season, he’s now surrendered one earned run or zero in four straight outings.

“They’ve been good so far,” Detmers said of his starts this season. “I’m just going out there and competing, that’s the main thing. I’m not trying to do too much, using what I have and trying to get a ‘W.’”

Los Angeles Betting Odds to Win
MLB Money Line