The MLB betting action continues Wednesday, May 11, 2022, with the American League showdown at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, so we bring you the best Rays vs. Angels betting pick along with the latest odds update on MyBookie Sportsbook.  

Tampa Bay and Los Angeles close down a three-game series, and the Angels open as small -115 home favorites. The Rays are +105 moneyline underdogs, while the totals are listed at 7.0 runs. 

The Rays suffered a heavy loss in the opener                          

Tuesday night’s games have been excluded from this preview, and the 18-12 Tampa Bay Rays were looking to bounce back from a heavy 11-3 defeat at Angel Stadium on Monday night. It was the Rays’ second straight defeat, as they put an end to a six-game winning streak with a 2-1 loss at the Seattle Mariners last Sunday. 

Through their first nine games in May, the Rays have scored 46 runs on a .258/.311/.417 triple-slash. They’ve slugged 20 extra-base hits and ten home runs in that span. On the pitching side of things, Tampa Bay has registered a 4.32 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and .230 batting average against so far this month. 

Shane McClanahan will toe the rubber Wednesday in Anaheim, looking for his second straight win. Last Thursday, the 25-year-old tossed 5.1 innings of a two-run ball in a 4-3 victory at the Mariners. McClanahan is 2-2 with a 3.06 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 47/9 K/BB ratio in six starts and 32.1 innings of work in 2022. 

The Angels continue to mash          

The Los Angeles Angels improved to 20-11 on the season following an 11-3 thrashing of the Rays in the opening clash of this series. Shohei Ohtani launched a couple of home runs, including his first career grand slam, while both Mike Trout and Jared Walsh went yard once. 

The Halos have smacked 13 homers in their first nine outings in May. They’ve scored 46 runs on a mediocre .211/.304/.377 slash line, but Trout and his teammates continue to hit the ball over the fence. On the other side of the ball, the Angels own a 3.26 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and .252 batting average against in May. 

Shohei Ohtani will take the mound Wednesday, and the 27-year-old righty is 3-2 with a 3.08 ERA, 1.53 FIP, and 41/5 K/BB ratio in five starts and 26.1 innings of work in 2022. Last Thursday, Ohtani allowed six hits across seven scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory at the Boston Red Sox while punching out 11.  

Trends:

Tampa Bay: 

  • N/A   

LA Angels:

  • 8-1 in the last nine games at home 
  • 12-4 in the last 16 games overall  
  • 10-3 in the last 13 games against the American League  

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Angels Pick 

With a couple of aces on the mound, it’s hard to predict the outcome. I’m expecting both teams to struggle at the plate, so bullpens might be a decisive factor. The Rays’ relievers are struggling in May, posting a 4.19 ERA and 4.71 FIP, so I lean toward the hosts. 

The Angels’ bullpen has done a surprisingly good job so far this season. Over the previous ten days, it has registered a sharp 2.73 ERA and 3.27 FIP while allowing a paltry 1.71 walks per nine innings. 

Pick: Take Los Angeles Angels at -115                      

The Total:

Although the line has been set pretty low, I have to take the under on the totals. Shohei Ohtani has been terrific over his previous three starts, allowing only two earned runs on 12 hits and a couple of walks through 18 frames of work. He’s recorded a whopping 27 strikeouts in that stretch. 

On the other side, Shane McClanahan has yielded two or fewer runs in three of his previous four outings. The current Halos have only two hits in 21 at-bats against McClanahan. 

Pick: Go under 7.0 runs at +100