Rays vs. Angels Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 8/25/2022

The Tampa Bay Rays (68-55), led by Christian Bethancourt on a three-game home run streak, are -185 favorites on the moneyline to defeat Mike Trout (homers in two straight contests) and the Los Angeles Angels (52-72). First pitch is at 1:10 PM ET on Thursday, live from Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen gets the start, and he’ll go against Los Angeles’ Patrick Sandoval.

Rays vs. Angels Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Rays vs. Angels

Our best bet is the Angels on the moneyline at +155 after taking a look at all of the key trends and statistics for this matchup. Our computer predicts the total score will over the total of 6.5 runs.

Our computer pick: Los Angeles Angels (+155) and Over (6.5)

Rays vs. Angels Game Info

• Tampa Bay Rays probable starting pitcher: Drew Rasmussen
• Los Angeles Angels probable starting pitcher: Patrick Sandoval
• Game Day: Thursday, August 25, 2022
• Game Time: 1:10 PM ET
• Location: St. Petersburg, Florida
• Stadium: Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays vs Los Angeles Angels Pitching Matchup

Rays Starter Drew Rasmussen

• Rasmussen gets the start for the Rays, his 22nd of the season. He is 8-4 with a 2.82 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 105 1/3 innings pitched.
• The righty’s last time out came on Saturday against the Kansas City Royals, when he threw 5 2/3 innings, surrendering two earned runs while giving up two hits.
• In 21 games this season, the 27-year-old has amassed an ERA of 2.82, with 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are hitting .218 against him.
• Rasmussen has five quality starts under his belt this season.
• Rasmussen will aim to last five or more innings for his third straight start. He’s averaging 5.0 innings per outing.
• He will take the mound against an Angels offense that ranks 27th in MLB with 931 total hits (on a .226 batting average). The squad also slugs a collective .374 (25th in MLB) with 135 total home runs (13th in MLB).

Angels Starter Patrick Sandoval

• Sandoval (4-8) will take to the mound for the Angels and make his 21st start of the season.
• The left-hander last pitched on Friday, when he allowed four hits in 9 2/3 scoreless innings against the Detroit Tigers.
• The 25-year-old has pitched in 20 games this season with an ERA of 3.14 and 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings, with an opponent batting average of .252.
• In 20 starts this season, he’s earned a quality start in eight of them.
• Sandoval has four starts in a row of five innings or more.
• The Rays rank 20th in MLB with a .239 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks 21st in the league (.378) and 110 home runs.

Rays Betting Picks & Insights

• The Rays have entered the game as favorites 84 times this season and won 51, or 60.7%, of those games.
• Tampa Bay has a record of 19-9, a 67.9% win rate, when favored by -185 or more by oddsmakers this season.
• The oddsmakers’ moneyline implies a 64.9% chance of a victory for the Rays.
• Tampa Bay and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 56 of their 123 opportunities.
• The Rays are 58-65-0 ATS in their 123 games with a spread this season.

Angels Betting Picks & Insights

• The Angels have been chosen as underdogs in 56 games this year and have walked away with the win 15 times (26.8%) in those games.
• Los Angeles has a win-loss record of 2-10 when favored by +155 or worse by oddsmakers this year.
• The Angels have an implied victory probability of 39.2% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Los Angeles and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 54 of their 124 opportunities.
• The Angels have an against the spread mark of 57-67-0 in 124 games with a line this season.

Rays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Yandy Diaz is the Rays best hitter thus far this season, hitting at a team-leading .277 rate along with seven homers and 46 RBI.
• Among all hitters in MLB, Diaz is 197th in home runs and 106th in RBI.
• Diaz has collected a hit in two games in a row. During his last five outings he is batting .313 with two doubles, two walks and two RBI.
• Randy Arozarena’s 17 home runs and 66 RBI are both team-highs.
• Arozarena ranks 52nd in homers and 30th in RBI on the year.
• Arozarena has four games in a row with at least one hit. In his last five games he is hitting .389 with two doubles, a home run, three walks and two RBI.
• Harold Ramirez is hitting .331 with 18 doubles, five home runs and 16 walks.
• Ramirez will look to build on his eight-game hitting in this game. During his last 10 outings he is hitting .342 with two doubles, a home run and six RBI.
• David Peralta is batting .249 with 22 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 30 walks.

Angels Leaders & Batting Stats

• Shohei Ohtani leads the squad with a batting average of .262, while pacing the Angels in home runs, with 27 and runs batted in with 72.
• Ohtani’s home run total places him 10th in MLB, and he ranks 22nd in RBI.
• Trout is batting .272 with 17 doubles, two triples, 26 home runs and 40 walks.
• Trout ranks 13th in home runs and 72nd in RBI among all hitters in MLB.
• Taylor Ward is hitting .259 with 14 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs and 49 walks.
• Luis Rengifo is batting .267 with 19 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 13 walks.