MLB Baseball Betting: Minnesota Twins vs Los Angeles Angels
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
by Frank Martin
The Los Angeles Angels have their sights set on the first-place Texas Rangers. They are just one game behind the reigning American League champions entering Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins. The Angels are 9-4 over their last 13 games while Texas lost its second straight game on Tuesday to see its AL West lead decrease.
The Angels beat the Twins 5-1 in Tuesday’s series opener. It marked the sixth time Los Angeles has held its opponent to one run or less during its 13-game hot streak. Minnesota has lost four of its last five games.
- Minnesota Twins (50-59) vs. Los Angeles Angels (60-50)
When: 10:05 PM ET, Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSNO (Minnesota), FSW (Los Angeles).
The Angels have opened as 106-moneyline favorites on Bet Online Sportsbook’s Live MLB Baseball Odds.
Twins RH Scott Baker (8-6, 2.86) vs. Angels RH Joel Pineiro (5-5, 4.91)
Baker won six of seven starts before losing to Texas in his last outing. He gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings against the Rangers. The start was Baker’s second since returning from an elbow injury. Baker has struggled against the Angels with a 1-5 career mark and 4.40 ERA in 10 starts. He received a no-decision against Los Angeles in May despite throwing seven shutout innings. Erick Aybar is batting .357 in 12 career at-bats against Baker.
Pineiro has endured three rough starts in a row and has allowed 15 earned runs in nine innings during the stretch. He lasted just 3 1/3 innings against Detroit in his last outing and was fortunate to receive a no-decision after giving up six runs (five earned). Two starts earlier, he gave up seven earned in just one-third of an inning against Oakland. Pineiro is 2-7 with a 4.33 ERA in 16 career outings (15 starts) against Minnesota. Joe Mauer is batting .700 in 20 career at-bats against Pineiro.
Ace right-hander Jered Weaver was suspended six games and fined an undisclosed amount for throwing a pitch at Detrot’s Alex Avila on Sunday. Weaver is appealing the suspension. Angels manager Mike Scioscia drew a one-game suspension and sat out Tuesday’s victory. Bench coach Rob Picciolo managed the club.
Bobby Abreu has topped 1,100 plate appearances over the past two seasons and that guarantees him a $9 million contract in 2012. Abreu had his 1,400th career RBI in Tuesday’s game. Mark Trumbo hit a three-run homer – his 20th of the season – and has 14 RBIs in his last nine games. Vernon Wells went 2-for-3 after going 3-for-29 over his previous seven games.
Minnesota has scored just seven runs over the last three games. The Twins are just 24-34 on the road and trail first-place Detroit by eight games in the AL Central. Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel each had two hits on Tuesday. Cuddyer is batting .333 during an eight-game hitting streak. Jim Thome drove in the lone Minnesota run for his 1,753rd career RBI, passing Tony Perez for 27th place on the all-time list. Center fielder Denard Span (concussion) made his return to the team and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Span had been sidelined since June 6.
Trumbo is the sixth rookie in Angels’ history to hit 20 homers in a season. The team record is 31 by Tim Salmon in 1993.
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alex avila - angel stadium - bobby abreu - denard span - erick aybar - jason kubel - jered weaver - jim thome - joe mauer - joel pineiro
