After an Easter Sunday full of baseball, Monday, April 10th, brings us another loaded slate of MLB games. Today, we are going to take a look at an interleague matchup between the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Nationals.
Angels vs. Nationals Betting Pick: Preview
Here are the odds at the time of posting for the series opener between the Angels and the Nationals.
Monday, April 10 MLB Betting Notes, Courtesy of DraftKings
Moneyline: Los Angeles Angels -240 vs. Washington Nationals +200
Runline: Angles -1.5 -130 / Nationals +1.5 +110
Total: 10.5 Runs (Over -105/ Under -115)
Game Time: 9:38 pm ET / 6:38 pm PT
Where: Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California
Weather: 54 degrees with a chance of rain
Angels vs. Nationals: Analysis
With the new MLB scheduling format, each team will play each other one time per season, so the schedule makers have the Nationals visiting the Angels for a three-game series. Los Angeles is coming off a series loss at home against the Blue Jays that was filled with fireworks, and the Nationals are coming off a series split against the Rockies at Coors Field.
Today we have a lefty-on-lefty matchup as Patrick Corbin will take the mound for the visiting Nationals, and Jose Suarez will take the bump for the Angels. Who has the edge in this interleague matchup? Let’s take a look.
Angels vs. Nationals: Angels Preview
The Angels’ faithful is probably okay with a 5-4 start from this team. Los Angeles, as we know, has two of the three best players in the entire sport, yet they do not win. The Angels had a prime opportunity to tie or take the lead against the Blue Jays in extra innings last night, but Los Angeles was incapable of capitalizing. Their lineup has been scoring runs which is great, but the problem with the Angels has been their pitching, and it does not seem like their staff is much better this season.
25-year-old lefty Jose Suarez will take the mound for the Angels tonight at home against the Nationals. In his first start of the year against the Mariners, Suarez allowed six earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. Suarez allowed two home runs in that matchup. The Nationals have a 116 wRC+ against lefties this season, so Suarez cannot take this Nationals’ lineup lightly.
As far as offense goes, the Angels have done a good job getting runs on the board. The Angels’ offense is 10th in the MLB in wRC+, 9th in WAR, and 12th in wOBA so far this season. The Angels have been great against lefties as well, and they have a great matchup against a left-handed pitcher tonight.
Angels vs. Nationals: Nationals Preview
The Nationals are 3-7, and while that is not great at all, it is not as bad as you’d think for a team that is fully rebuilding. Washington was able to split their series against the Rockies at Coors Field, and now they continue their West Coast trip against the Angels. Washington’s offense came alive against the Rockies, but it is fair to believe they were just able to capitalize playing at Coors Field.
Lefty Patrick Corbin will make the start for the Nationals tonight against the Angels. In his two starts this season, Corbin has allowed 10 runs on 17 hits with six strikeouts in nine innings of work. Corbin was one of the worst pitchers in baseball last season, and it does not seem like he will have any sort of success to start this season. Corbin’s 5.95 FIP so far this season sums up how his last two seasons have gone and seemingly will continue to go.
The Nationals’ offense is not great by any means, but they do a good job of not striking out. Against lefties, like they will face tonight, the Nationals are 11th in wRC+, 12th in OPS, and 11th in wOBA. The Nationals may not have a great lineup, but they are certainly seeing lefties well to start this season.
Angels vs. Nationals: Prediction
It seems so Los Angeles for them to blow a game like this that they should certainly win. The Angels of years past certainly would, but this team feels a little different. The way they have mashed lefties so far is encouraging, and Corbin should be another easy target for Los Angeles tonight. I expect them to win and cover the run line.
Prediction: Angels -1.5 -130