Rays vs Angels Prediction - MLB Picks 8/18/23

Los Angeles Angels (60-62) vs Tampa Bay Rays (73-50)

Game Info: Friday, August 18, 2023 at 9:38 pm (Angel Stadium of Anaheim)

Tyler Anderson (5-4) (5.28) vs () ()

Betting Odds: Los Angeles Angels +115 / Tampa Bay Rays -125 --- Over/Under: 9.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds

The Tampa Bay Rays will head out to Anaheim to meet the Los Angeles Angels for game one of their three-game set this Friday from Angel Stadium.

Rays Preview & Projected Starter

Tampa Bay comes in at 73-50 after taking two of three from San Francisco. The Rays controlled game three from the first inning, and they’ll look to end their trip to Cali on a strong note here. The Tampa offense is scoring 5.13 runs per game, while batting .255, with a .327 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 3.70 ERA, with a 1.18 WHIP.

Erasmo Ramirez (3-2, 5.72 ERA, 21 Ks) will get the ball for Tampa. The eleventh-year righty returned to the Rays at the deadline, and he struggled last time out against San Francisco, allowing four hits and two runs in just one inning pitched. Ramirez allowed four runs combined thru his first four appearances with TB, and he’ll look to bounce back here against LAA.

Rays Player Trends & Props

• Yandy Diaz has recorded multiple hits in four of the last six games, and he leads Tampa in batting (.322) and hits (129), with 16 home runs and 60 RBI.

• Josh Lowe went yard in the game three victory in San Francisco, and he’s posting nice splits of .272/15/59.

• Randy Arozarena has returned to form by recording a hit in nine of his last ten games, and he’s second on the team with eighteen homers and 68 runs batted in.

• Isaac Paredes leads the Rays in home runs (23) and RBI (70).

Angels Preview & Projected Starter

Los Angeles moved to 59-61 after dropping two of three to Texas. The Angels trip didn't go well, and after dropping four of six to the Astros and Rangers, they’ll look to avoid another series loss here at home. The LAA offense is scoring 4.16 runs per game, while batting .257, with a .333 on-base percentage. The pitching staff carries a 4.43 ERA, with a 1.36 WHIP.

Tyler Anderson (5-4, 5.28 ERA, 92 Ks) will take the mound for Los Angeles. The eighth-year lefty was roughed up in Houston last week, allowing seven runs in just 4.2 innings en route to his fourth defeat. Anderson has opened August with a pair of losses, and he may be in for another uphill battle with the contact-happy Rays.

Angels Player Trends & Props

• Shohei Ohtani homered and collected three hits in the game three win over Texas, and he’s first in the AL in home runs (42), while leading LAA in hits (137) and RBI (85), while batting .306.

• Brandon Drury is hitless over his lash four games, so he may be due here at home, and he’s posting splits of .264/15/49.

• Mike Moustakas had multiple hits in the game three loss, and he’s posting a line of .274/11/47.

• Hunter Renfroe only had two hits in six games in Texas, but he’s second on the team in RBI (51), with seventeen home runs.

Corey’s Pick

The Angels have watched their July momentum disappear, as they’ve come out flat this month, and its truly now or never for this group of guys. The Rays responded well to the adversity with a win on Wednesday, but I think they’ll feel the loss of Wander Franco a bit more this weekend. LAA has played themselves into a corner, and they find themselves in a compromising position. The Angels don’t fight to the end, they will likely lose Shohei Ohtani without compensation, so with the need to win at an all-time high rate, let’s sway with the host here in game one.