The strikeout-prone Los Angeles Angels (56-74) face a tough test at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Wednesday against the New York Yankees (79-51) and Gerrit Cole, owner of one of this season’s best K/9 rates, with the three-game series in the balance. The Yankees evened up the series 1-1 after winning 7-4 on Tuesday, their fourth head-to-head victory in five games this season. Greg Weissert got the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Aaron Judge was 3 for 5 with a home run, two runs, and three RBIs in the win. Anthony Rizzo added a solo home run and two walks. Mike Ford went 2 for 3 with a home run and two runs for the Angels. Max Stassi added a home run and two RBIs.
ON THE MOUND
Cole (10-6, 3.31 ERA) is in line for the start for New York. The righty leads the league in strikeouts (200). Cole allowed one run over 7.1 innings in his last start, a 3-2 road win over the Athletics on Friday. He got the win, giving up three hits while striking out 11 and walking two. Cole is making his first appearance against the Angels this season. Over two starts against the Angels in 2021, Cole was 2-0 with a 1.42 ERA over 12.2 innings. He had 24 strikeouts and one walk. For Los Angeles, lefty Patrick Sandoval (4-9, 3.14 ERA) will toe the rubber. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Yankees. In his last start on Thursday, Sandoval took the loss on the road against the Rays. He threw six innings and gave up five runs (1 ER) on five hits, striking out five and walking one in the 8-3 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, New York has averaged only 3.2 runs a game, down from their season average of 5.0, while performing worse across the board (.176/.257/.309). Against lefties like Sandoval this season, the Yanks have a .793 OPS, the third highest in MLB. Judge is the team’s most productive hitter against left-handers with a 1.034 OPS in 116 at-bats. Los Angeles is averaging 6.0 runs per game in the last five, up from 3.8 for the season, with a better slash line (.268/.307/.536). The Halos have a .691 OPS against right-handers in 2022. With a .943 OPS over 301 at-bats, Shohei Ohtani has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
New York is 34-31 in away games in 2022, scoring 5.0 runs per game while allowing 3.7 runs. Los Angeles has gone 27-37 at home this season, averaging 4.1 runs per game while surrendering 4.4. New York is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the teams at Angel Stadium of Anaheim with an average scoreline of 4.9-4.8.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Yankees lead the AL East by seven games over the Rays. The Angels are fourth in the AL West, 27 games behind the Astros.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
New York Yankees (-200)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
