MLB Picks: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Angels

The Tampa Bay Rays (18-23) and Los Angeles Angels (21-18) will open up a four-game American League series Thursday night at Angel Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 10:05 p.m. ET

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels return home after a 5-1 road trip,

Tampa Bay has won two games in a row, including a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners as -116 road favorites Wednesday, while going UNDER the betting total in each of those affairs. The Rays will be led offensively by third baseman Evan Longoria, who is a .377 career hitter with six home runs and 17 RBIs at this ballpark, as he attended nearby Long Beach State. Tampa Bay is 2-1 as road underdogs of +125 to +150 this season, with the UNDER cashing in two of those opportunities.

Rays starting pitcher Erik Bedard (2-1, 3.38 ERA) has registered back-to-back wins, including a 7-1 home victory over the Cleveland Indians last time out, as he allowed just a single hit over six shutout innings. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in three road appearances (two starts), while he hasn’t served up a home run in 26.2 combined frames overall this year. In 10 lifetime outings versus the Halos, Bedard has compiled a 4-5 record and 4.45 ERA.

Los Angeles returns home after a 5-1 road trip, which included a 3-0 shutout victory over the Philadelphia Phillies as -111 favorites Wednesday afternoon, while going UNDER the betting total in four of those affairs in that span. It’s important to point out that the franchise has dropped 15 of its last 19 home games against Tampa Bay, which could prove troublesome due to Tyler Skaggs’ 0-1 record and 6.75 ERA in four starts at the venue. Los Angeles is 6-4 as home favorites of -125 to -150 this season, with the OVER going 6-3-1 in that situation.

Skaggs (3-1, 4.14 ERA) earned a 5-3 road victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in his last trip to the mound, as he allowed three runs (two earned) and four hits over eight innings. The left-hander has gone 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two outings this month, which is a drop off in comparison to his 2-0 mark and 3.34 ERA in five April starts. The 22-year-old will be facing the Rays for the first time in his career.