Angels(-202)
Tigers vs. Angels Expert MLB Predictions and Odds Preview (Archive)
The Tigers look to continue their winning streak with one of their top pitching prospects on the mound, making his Major League debut. They’ll open a weekend series with the Angels, who are riding a losing streak and starting one of the most exciting players in baseball
Detroit Tigers vs Los Angeles Angels
Thursday, 17 June 2021, 9:38 PM ET at Angel Stadium
The Tigers and Angels are on different trajectories as they open a four-game weekend series in Anaheim. Detroit won the first three games of its road trip, sweeping Kansas City earlier this week and putting up 20 runs in the three games. The Angels saw an abrupt end to their hot streak. After winning six straight and eight of nine, the Oakland A’s came to Angel Stadium and swept a three-game series to start the week, giving up 22 runs in the three games. That is why you should look for your MLB odds at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
The losses came after the Angels had battled back to above .500 on the season. After being as low as eight games below .500, the Angels reached 33-32, posting a winning record for the first time since May 1. The Tigers are 10 games below .500 and 10 and a half games out of first in the American League Central. They’ll be looking to the future on Thursday, starting one of their top pitching prospects in his MLB debut
Youth Movement
This will be the third straight game that the Tigers turn to one of their pitchers of the future. The last two wins of the Kansas City series were produced by Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal. Mize was selected first overall in the 2018 draft after dominating at Auburn University. He quickly rose through the minor leagues and made his Major League debut last August. The 24-year-old got the start on opening day and has gone 4-4, 3.49 this year.
Skubal was selected in the ninth round in 2018 and also sped through the minor leagues and also made his debut last August. He’s 4-7, 4.36 this season. "They’re growing up fast, aren’t they?" manager AJ Hinch said after the sweep of the Royals. "They are doing a great job of growing up in the big leagues, taking the responsibility and going with it."
Now Matt Manning will join the other two young arms. He was drafted out of high school in 2016 in the first round, ninth overall, and is 23, a year younger than Mize and Skubal. He was dominant at Double-A Erie in 2019, the last full year of minor league baseball, going 11-5, 2.56 and winning Eastern League pitcher of the year.
He hasn’t had the same success at Triple-A Toledo this year, going 1-3 with an 8.07 ERA and allowing 11 home runs in 32 innings. He’s still striking out more than a batter an inning, however, and with the Tigers down to three starters due to injuries, he is getting the call. “He doesn’t have to try to do too much," Hinch said. "He doesn’t have to ease into it. I’m not going to baby him."
Ohtani Time
The Angels won’t be getting a taste of their future, like Detroit. Instead, they’ll be looking at a unique talent who is currently one of the most exciting players in the Major Leagues. Shohei Ohtani, who has been one of the top stories in MLB this year, will get the start on Thursday. The two-way player did a bit of everything on offense in Wednesday’s loss to Oakland, hitting his team-high 19th home run—his second in two days—bunting for a hit and stealing his 10th base of the year.
“I’m feeling pretty good at the plate,” Ohtani said. “But I wish I would’ve come through with runners on base.” Thursday, he’ll switch gears and head to the mound. He saw his velocity, which had been hitting 100 mph, drop by about 5 mph in mid-May. It’s slowly been building back up and may return to the three-digit range in Thursday’s start, if the trend continues. He is 2-1 on the year with a 2.85 ERA and has cut that ERA by 18 points in his last six outings, striking out 45 in his last 33.2
The Pick
The Tigers have been playing good ball this week and will be excited with their future ace on the mound. Ohtani has been on a different level this season, however. Look for the Angels to snap their slump and spoil Manning’s debut so grab the Angels for your MLB pick.
MLB Pick: Angels (-202) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
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