Las Vegas A's

Can the A’s get back on track against the visiting Angels?

by
Tony Reyes
July 2, 2024

What: MLB Regular Season Game
When: Tuesday, July 2
Who: Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Athletics
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where: Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland, CA)

The Oakland Athletics are set to host the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night. This is the first game of a three-game series at the Coliseum.

The Los Angeles Angels are entering Tuesday’s game 11 games below .500. They recently suffered a one-run loss to Detroit, snapping a lengthy winning streak.

Los Angeles Angels

How good is Jose Soriano? The right-hander boasts one of the highest ground-ball rates in baseball at 60.8%, which keeps his Expected Batting Average down to .233 and limits the number of barrels and expected extra-base hits.

However, his Achilles’ heel has been his walk rate, compounded by an Angels defense that ranked dead last in Outs Above Average due to a rotating cast of infielders in the early part of the season.

Vote for our new Player of the Homestand in the poll below! ????️

Canning: 2 GS, 1-0, 3.46 ERA, 9 SO
Daniel: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 SO
O’Hoppe: .316, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .996 OPS
Rengifo: .407, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1.133 OPS

Player of the Homestand x @HelpfulHonda pic.twitter.com/Go2ZV90OE4

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) July 1, 2024

Recently, the Angels have shown marginal improvements defensively, no longer sitting at the bottom in June. Miguel Sano’s return should further bolster the defense, as he had performed well at third base before his injury.

On Tuesday, Soriano will face an A’s team that walks around the league average and ranks 22nd in batting average against ground-ball pitchers.

Conversely, the Angels rank 10th against ground-ball pitchers, slashing .253/.322/.445 in that split, compared to .225/.294/.356 against fly-ball pitchers.

This should create a challenging situation for Mitch Spence, given his tendency to induce ground balls and his limited strikeout ability.

Oakland Athletics

Oakland suffered their second consecutive loss and seventh in their last eight games, falling in the series finale against the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Entering Monday with a 30-56 record, the A’s are at the bottom of the AL West. They’re trailing the Mariners by 17 games for the top spot and the Royals by 17 for the final wild-card berth in the American League.

First of three vs the Angels. pic.twitter.com/jyPdTqlbdI

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) July 2, 2024

In Sunday’s game, Oakland managed just five hits, with Kyle McCann being the only player to record two. Zach Gelof hit his ninth solo homer, accounting for the A’s lone run.

Luis Medina pitched six innings, giving up one run on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts. However, this was not a factor in the decision.

T.J. McFarland (1-1) took the loss in relief, allowing three runs on one hit with one walk and no strikeouts in one-third of an inning.

Mitch Spence is set to take the mound for the A’s, making his 20th appearance and ninth start of the season. He has a 4-4 record with a 4.35 ERA, a 1.244 WHIP, 16 walks, and 56 strikeouts over 68.1 innings.

In his last start against the Angels on the road last Tuesday night, Spence took the loss. He pitched 5.1 innings and allowed six runs on eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts in a 7-5 defeat.

Over his last three starts, Spence is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA, a 1.53 WHIP, three walks, and 16 strikeouts over 17 innings.

His start against the Angels marked his first career outing against them, resulting in an 0-1 record. He tallied a 10.13 ERA, a 1.688 WHIP, one walk, and six strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Spence holds a 2-2 record with a 3.99 ERA, a 1.304 WHIP, 10 walks, and 33 strikeouts over 38.1 innings in 10 career appearances, including four starts, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Angels-A’s Best Bet

This could benefit an Angels team that has been striking out in nearly 26% of their plate appearances over the last 14 days.

I believe in Soriano and in a suddenly competent Angels team that has won six of their last seven games heading into Tuesday. Take the Angels on the moneyline in this one.