Free MLB Picks Today: New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 4/20/23

Patrick Sandoval, one of the early season’s stingiest pitchers, is set to take the mound for the Los Angeles Angels (9-9) as they face off against the New York Yankees (11-7) at Yankee Stadium on Thursday with the three-game series knotted at 1-1.

The Yankees leveled the series 1-1 after winning 3-2 in 10 innings on Wednesday. Reliever Ian Hamilton was credited with the win after throwing one scoreless inning. Aaron Judge went 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs in the win over the Angels.

ON THE MOUND

Sandoval (1-0, 1.23 ERA) is in line to start for Los Angeles. The lefty allowed two runs (zero earned) over 3.2 innings in his last start, a 5-3 home defeat against the Red Sox on Friday. He gave up three hits while striking out six and walking three in the no-decision. Sandoval is making his first appearance against the Yankees this season.

Sandoval made one start against the Yankees in 2022, a 3-2 home victory on August 31. He surrendered two runs on three hits over seven innings, striking out seven and walking two. LHP Nestor Cortes (2-0, 2.60 ERA) gets the ball for New York. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Angels.

Cortes made one start against the Angels in 2022, throwing seven innings in a 6-1 home win on June 2. He gave up five hits and walked two, while striking out seven in the win.In his last start on Friday, Cortes took a no-decision at home against the Twins. He threw seven innings and gave up two runs on five hits, striking out seven, in the 4-3 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Los Angeles has averaged 4.0 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 4.9. Against lefties like Cortes this season, the Halos have ann .883 OPS, third highest in MLB. Shohei Ohtani is the team’s most potent producer against left-handers with a 1.275 OPS in 13 at-bats.

New York is averaging only 3.2 runs per game in the last five, down from 4.4 for the season, with their slash line slipping across the board (.199/.290/.359). The Yanks have a .613 OPS against left-handers in 2023. With a 1.100 OPS over five at-bats, Gleyber Torres has been their best hitter against left-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Los Angeles is 6-6 in road games in 2023, scoring 4.7 runs per game while allowing 3.8 runs. New York has gone 7-5 at their home ballpark this season, averaging 3.9 runs per game while surrendering 3.1. New York is 7-3 in the last 10 games at Yankee Stadium between the teams with an average scoreline of 5.5-3.3.