MLB Picks: Cleveland Indians vs. Los Angeles Angels

The Cleveland Indians (68-58) and Los Angeles Angels (55-70) will close out a three-game American League series Wednesday afternoon at Angel Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET

Cleveland Indians vs. Los Angeles Angels

The Cleveland Indians are 9-4 as road favorites of -125 to -150 since 2011

Cleveland is 5-3 on its current nine-game road trip, which includes a 4-1 extra-innings victory as +100 underdogs Tuesday, while going UNDER the betting total of 7.5 for a second consecutive contest. “It was a team win,” commented Indians outfielder Michael Bourn. The Indians are now 3.5 games back of the Oakland Athletics for the AL’s second Wild Card spot, while they also moved within 5.5 games of the Detroit Tigers in the division standings. Cleveland is 9-4 as road favorites of -125 to -150 the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER going 9-3-1 in that situation.

Indians starting pitcher Justin Masterson (13-9, 3.59 ERA) has watched the club alternated wins and losses over his last four outings, as he was handed a 3-2 road defeat by the Athletics last time out. The right-hander is 5-6 with a 4.28 ERA in 11 road outings, surrendering nine home runs in 75.2 combined frames. In 11 career appearances (eight starts) versus the Angels, Masterson has compiled a 3-0 record and 2.59 ERA.

Los Angeles has dropped three games in a row, while the UNDER has cashed in its last two affairs. The Angels finished last night 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 17 runners on, as they were blanked by eight relief pitchers by the Tribe. Offensively, the team hopes to get outfielder Mike Trout back in the lineup, as he’s missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. He is hitting .333 with 21 home runs and 78 RBIs on the season. Los Angeles is 2-8 as home underdogs of +125 to +150 the last two-plus seasons, with the UNDER cashing in six of those contests.

Angels starting pitcher Jerome Williams (5-9, 4.90 ERA) has watched the club drop his last seven outings, including a 8-2 home defeat to the Houston Astros last time out, as he allowed three runs and five hits over 4.1 innings of work. The right-hander is 2-7 with a 5.43 ERA in 16 home games (10 starts), with opposing hitters batting .257 against him. Williams didn’t earn a decision in his only career outing versus the Indians on Aug. 11, as he allowed four runs and four hits over 5.2 frames.