The Los Angeles Angels' tireless effort to reel in the AL West leading Texas Rangers continues this evening as Mike Scioscia’s club opens a three game series with the Indians in Cleveland. Start time in tonight’s Los Angeles Angels vs. Cleveland Indians game one clash is scheduled for 7:05pm ET at Progressive Field. MLB Monday odds have L.A. listed as a -146 moneyline favorite ($146 to win $100) while the Indians are getting +136 odds as a home underdog. The total in this evening’s contest is set at eight runs; the Under is favored at -115 odds.
The Angels were not able to earn their seventh consecutive series win in Toronto; however, the club did garner a split in the four game set, taking game one 9-7 and yesterday’s finale 10-6. Sunday’s bounce back performance, which featured home runs from Alberto Callaspo, Mike Trout, and Mark Trumbo, brought the Angels record to 44-35 and within 5.5 games of the division lead.
Los Angeles will look to inch even closer tonight as staff ace Jered Weaver takes aim at his ninth win of the season. While somewhat limited in his pitch count, Weaver has been outstanding since returning from the DL, working 12 2/3 innings in wins over the Giants (6-0) and Orioles (13-1). Weaver allowed just eight hits and one earned run in those two outings to bring his season ERA to 2.31.
Weaver’s road numbers, while good, are not what they have been at home. The Long Beach State product is 3-1 in seven road starts (Angels 4-3) with a 3.77 ERA; his opponent batting average against is .242 and he has issued 14 free passes in 43 innings of work at opposing venues (.134 BAA at home with just four walks).
Tonight will mark Weaver’s second start of the season at Cleveland. The six year veteran allowed seven hits and struck out eight over six innings in a 3-2 loss to the Indians on April 27th.
Cleveland, which has been engaged in a back and forth struggle with the White Sox for AL Central supremacy, drew to within a 1.5 of division leader Chicago with a 6-2 win over Baltimore yesterday afternoon. The win improved the Indians record to 40-38 and gave them a 3-1 series victory against the fading Orioles.
Cleveland will call on the talented but inconsistent Ubaldo Jimenez to keep the positive momentum rolling this evening. Jimenez, who is 7-6 with a 4.69 ERA, did not fare well his last time out, yielding four earned runs and four walks over six innings in a 4-5 loss at New York.
Jimenez, despite a 3-2 home record (six starts), is far more likely to turn in a good performance at Progressive Field where he owns a 3.79 ERA and .193 batting average against. He has allowed more home runs in fewer innings of work at home than on the road; however, opponents have posted just 26 hits off of him in 38 innings at Progressive Field. Jimenez has given up 57 hits in 50 1/3 innings on the road.
MLB Monday Betting Trend: The Under is 8-2 in the Angels last 10 games as a road favorite at Cleveland.
MLB Monday Los Angeles Angels vs. Cleveland Indians Odds
Los Angeles Angels -1.5 (+105), Over 8 (-105), -146 (Moneyline)
Cleveland Indians +1.5 (-125), Under 8 (-115), +136 (Moneyline)
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