The Boston Red Sox (26-21) take one of the top lineups in the league on the road to face the Los Angeles Angels (25-23) at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Monday for the first of a three-game series.
The Red Sox are in the midst of a nine-game road trip. They won two out of three in their last series against the Padres, dropping the finale 7-0 on Sunday at Petco Park. Masataka Yoshida was 2 for 3.
Raimel Tapia also went 2 for 3.The Angels are in the midst of a nine-game homestand. They won two of three against the Twins in their last series, taking the finale 4-2 on Sunday at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Matt Thaiss went 1 for 1 with a double, one run, and one RBI.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Red Sox have won three of four in the season series between the teams, although they dropped a close one 5-4 in their last meeting on April 17 at Fenway Park. Tucker Davidson threw 3.1 innings out of the bullpen to get the win, and Carlos Estevez earned his second save.
ON THE MOUND
Tanner Houck (3-3, 5.26 ERA) is slated for the start for Boston. The RHP allowed four runs over five innings in his last start, a 10-1 road defeat against the Mariners on May 15. He took the loss, scattering five hits while striking out five and walking one.
Houck has made one previous start against the Angels this season, a 5-3 home victory on April 14. He surrendered two runs on four hits over four innings, striking out six and walking four. For Los Angeles, righty Chase Silseth (0-1, 3.24 ERA) is on the mound.
It’s his first appearance of the season against the Red Sox. In his last start on Tuesday, Silseth took the loss on the road against the Orioles. He threw 3.1 innings and gave up four runs on six hits, striking out five and walking one in the 7-3 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
The Boston offense is averaging 5.5 runs per game for the season, third best in the league, with a slash line of .269/.339/.449. Alex Verdugo leads the team in OPS at .866. The center fielder is slashing .303/.381/.486 with five home runs, 19 RBIs, and 37 runs over 46 games.
Against right-handed pitchers like Silseth this season, the Sox have a .795 OPS, second highest in the league. Verdugo also is the team’s strongest hitter against right-handers with a .951 OPS in 116 at-bats. Los Angeles is slashing .261/.329/.420 for the season and averaging 5.0 runs per game.
Shohei Ohtani leads the team with a .900 OPS. He has 11 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 27 runs scored with a slash line of .286/.357/.543. Los Angeles is averaging only 3.6 runs per game in the last five with their slugging percentage slipping to .387.
The Halos have a .747 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .952 OPS over 122 at-bats, Mike Trout has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Boston is 11-10 away from home in 2023, scoring 4.9 runs per game while allowing 4.7 runs. Los Angeles has gone 12-10 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim this season, averaging 5.3 runs per game while surrendering 5.5.
Boston is 6-4 in the last 10 games at Angel Stadium of Anaheim between the teams despite an average scoreline favoring Los Angeles (4.3-3.7).
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Red Sox are fourth in the AL East, seven games behind the division-leading Rays. The Angels are third in the AL West, five games behind the Rangers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
LA Angels (-115)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
