Angels Battle Rival Dodgers in MLB Odds Set
The Los Angeles Angels are 16-10 in 26 games against the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2010 but are 0-3 in their last three games against their crosstown rivals. The Angels will head to Dodger Stadium this weekend for a three-game series starting on Friday against the Dodgers.
The Dodgers are a -210 favorite in the opening game of the Freeway Series according to online sportsbook Bovada. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for the home team against Hector Santiago and the Angels at +170. Kershaw hasn't given up a run over his last 38 innings of work and has struck out 42 batters over that stretch.
After losing three straight games to the Houston Astros, the Angels could have trouble breaking out of their slump against Kershaw on Friday and Zack Greinke on Saturday.
Johnny Cueto is set to make his first start for the Kansas City Royals on Friday in Kansas City's second game of a four-game road series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Cueto faces the best offense in baseball as Toronto is averaging 5.27 runs per game this season, and that offense figures to be even more dangerous down the stretch with newly acquired Troy Tulowitzki in the lineup.
Kansas City is a -122 favorite in Friday's game over Drew Hutchinson and the Blue Jays at +102. David Price is projected to make his Blue Jays debut on Sunday.
The New York Mets are currently three games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East, and they will have a golden chance to gain some ground while hosting the Nationals in a three-game series starting on Friday.
Both teams went out and bolstered their bullpens before the trade deadline as the Mets acquired Tyler Clippard and the Nationals added closer Jonathan Papelbon. Matt Harvey will start the series opener as a -130 favorite at Bovada over Gio Gonzalez and the Nationals at +110.
The Texas Rangers host the San Francisco Giants in a three-game series starting on Friday. The Rangers are a +150 home underdog with Nick Martinez squaring off against Madison Bumgarner (-170). Newly acquired Cole Hamels could make his Rangers debut over the weekend.