Can the Braves Beat the Angels in the MLB Odds on Wednesday Night?

As of this writing the Los Angeles Angels are still awaiting word on an MRI of the hand of superstar Mike Trout, the two-time AL MVP and runaway favorite again this season. At a minimum, it seems Trout will sit out again Wednesday when Atlanta visits in an interleague matchup. These two teams already started their series on Monday, with the Angels taking the win at 6-3. Game 2 is today as well. The line for this game may depend on Trout’s status.

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Atlanta at LA Angels MLB Prediction & Betting Preview

RECAP: #Braves ride 6-run 3rd to win vs. Angels. https://t.co/CLMBSMBy0Z pic.twitter.com/PswrmFy9ul

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 30, 2017

When: Wednesday, May 31, 10:07 PM ET Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Calif. Probable pitchers (away/home): Jaime Garcia/Jesse Chavez TV: MLB Extra Innings Stream: MLB.tv Radio: Atlanta / Los Angeles Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet On Atlanta?

The Braves play in Anaheim for the first time since dropping two of three, May 20-May 22, 2011. Their only other trip here came in 2008, when they won two of three, June 13-June 15. OF Matt Kemp (37) and OF Ender Inciarte (36) rank two and three in the NL for May hits, behind only Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon (39). Kemp is hitting .356 this month, third best in the league, while Inciarte is tied for seventh at .333. The Braves have scored 91 runs this season with two outs, the 10th most in the majors. They are hitting .259 in these situations, which is the fourth-best mark in baseball. RHP Jason Motte and RHP Arodys Vizcaíno have both made 12 consecutive scoreless appearances. Motte was scored upon last in his Braves debut, April 28, 11.0 innings ago, while Vizcaíno has not allowed a run over 11.1 innings since April 23. The two streaks are tied for second-longest active runs by appearances in the NL and two off the lead of Cincinnati’s Raisel Iglesias. Motte and Vizcaíno’s streaks are the longest in a single-season by a Braves right-hander since 2015, when Vizcaíno went 16 straight, July 20-September 2. It’s left Jaime Garcia (2-3, 3.58) on the mound. Garcia tossed 6.2 scoreless innings Friday, giving up four hits and two walks while striking out five, in a 2-0 win over the Giants. He also drove in the game-winning run with a two-out single in the seventh inning. Garcia’s 3.58 ERA and 1.27 WHIP are now the lowest they’;ve been all season. The lefty is starting to find a groove after sputtering early in the season. Garcia has allowed only one earned run over his last 14 2/3 innings.

Why Bet On Los Angeles?

Trout left Sunday’s game with the Marlins and could be headed to the DL for the first time in his spectacular career. Trout sprained his left thumb in the fifth inning while stealing his 10th base of the season in the final game of a 10-game road trip in which the Halos won just four. Sliding headfirst into second base, Trout came up flexing his left hand. He remained in the game, but he was taken out in the bottom of the sixth. He immediately went to the clubhouse for further evaluation. Initial tests did not reveal a break or tear, just a sprain, but it could still result in Trout’s first disabled list trip. Trout has been Mr. Durable throughout his major league career. He averaged 158 games per season from 2013 to 2016. He missed six games earlier this season due to a hamstring issue. In those six, the Angels went 2-4, averaged three runs and hit .202 as a team. They scored more than three runs only once. Trout ranks first in the majors with 3.5 wins above replacement. If he misses time, his replacement could be Ben Revere, who ranks second-to-last among position players with -1.2 WAR this season. In fact, Trout has compiled 14 WAR — most in the majors — since the start of the 2016 season. Revere ranks second-to-last in that span too at -2.4 WAR. It’s Jesse Chavez (4-6, 5.09) on the mound here. Chavez was knocked around for five runs over 3 2/3 innings in a loss to the Marlins on Friday. It was his shortest start of the season. Chavez gave up eight hits, including a long two-run homer to Giancarlo Stanton and a solo blast to J.T. Realmuto. He has now allowed 13 home runs in just 58 1/3 innings this season.

Atlanta at LA Angels MLB Betting Pick: Atlanta Braves

I wouldn’t touch the Angels for as long as Trout is out. He’s that good.