MLB Baseball
2012-05-01 - Minnesota Twins at LA Angels
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
United States: Major League Baseball
Tuesday 1 May 2012 - First Pitch 10:05pm ET
3:05am (British Standard Time)
Preview
The LA Angels (8-15) had a miserable April, but they will look to win this series after taking game 1 with a 4-3 win last night. The Minnesota Twins (6-16) were expected to have a tough season and they have been struggling this season, something that may not be rectified with Francisco Liriano taking the mound for them tonight.
Liriano has started 2012 with a 0-3 record and a 11.02 ERA- the pitcher has not started since April 22 as he was given extra rest days to make sure he is getting his command right. In his last start, Liriano allowed 5 runs, hit a batter and also issued 4 walks in just 5 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Angels scored 6 runs and were given 3 walks in 5 innings against Liriano earlier this season and he is now 0-2 with a 10.57 ERA in 3 starts against LA since 2009.
Jerome Williams will be given the ball for the Angels, and he is 1-1 with a 5.51 ERA so far this season. Williams had a good outing last time out, allowing just 2 runs in 7 innings pitched against the Tampa Bay Rays.
He threw just over 1 inning last year in relief against the Twins last season, although that is the only time he has faced them since starting against them for San Francisco in 2003.
Minnesota's batting line up may be bolstered by the returning Joe Mauer, although Justin Morneau could miss out.
Head to Head
The win for the LA Angels last night means they are now 4-2 in the last 6 games in the series.
The Angels have won 3 in a row at home against Minnesota, and 4 of the last 5.
LA are 5-6 at home, Minnesota are 3-8 on the road.
Prediction
The LA Angels are struggling to score big numbers with their batting line up today, but they have already hammered Francisco Liriano once this season and I think they will be able to make hay again today.
That means it will be down to Jerome Williams to try and limit any response Minnesota can generate, something that is aided by the likely absence of Morneau in the batting line up.
Williams also pitched well in his last outing and anything similar to that should see the Angels earn the win by a couple of runs at least.
The run line is priced at 2.30 and that looks worth backing.
The Pick :
LA Angels 6-3 Minnesota Twins
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back the LA Angels - 1.5 Runs @ 2.30
