Article courtesy OddsShark (@OddsShark)
After getting swept by the Chicago Cubs in three games, the reeling Los Angeles Dodgers (17-15) will try to rebound at Anaheim in the first of three against the Angels (13-17) on Friday. The Dodgers opened as -150 road favorites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com for the series opener with Julio Urias (4-0, 2.87 ERA) on the hill, and he will try to stay perfect in 2021 opposite the Angels’ Griffin Canning (2-2, 6.20 ERA) (how the moneyline works).
Urias is coming off one of his best starts of the season, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings versus the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday in a 16-4 victory with no walks and 10 strikeouts. As it turned out, that was the last win for Los Angeles since the team was outscored 17-9 at Chicago’s Wrigley Field earlier this week. Two of three losses were decided by only one run though, although that offers little consolation for fans and bettors of the Dodgers right now.
Dodgers vs. Angels | OddsShark Matchup Report
The defending World Series champions have fallen 1.5 games behind the National League West-leading San Francisco Giants after getting swept by the Cubs, and they are also dealing with the loss of fifth starter Dustin May following season-ending Tommy John surgery. The good news for the Dodgers and their backers though is that they have fared extremely well playing teams of the American League over the past year. They are 22-8 in their last 30 games against AL foes, including a 6-0 mark versus the Angels.
The other Los Angeles team finds itself in the cellar of the AL West after dropping five games in a row following a four-game sweep by the defending league champion Tampa Bay Rays. Despite three-time AL MVP Mike Trout having another stellar campaign and Shohei Ohtani performing well as a hitter and pitcher so far, the Angels have been disappointing. In addition, the team cut ties with future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols on Thursday in the final year of his contract.
After Canning’s spot in the rotation, the Angels are set to start Dylan Bundy (0-3, 4.00 ERA) on Saturday against an undecided pitcher for the Dodgers where May would usually get the call. Then in Sunday’s finale, Jose Quintana (0-3, 10.59 ERA) is expected to oppose three-time NL Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw (4-3, 2.95 ERA). Those two winless pitchers figure to be sizable home underdogs at sports betting sites to wrap up the series.
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