The Los Angeles Angels have won three of Griffin Canning’s four starts this season and they turn to him looking to pull out of a four-game slide. The Angels are a -160 favorite to do so against the Texas Rangers, who are coming back at +135 with Drew Smyly and his ugly 6.51 ERA. The total opened at 9 runs.
Standout Stats
- Texas is 10-7 SU and ATS over its last 17 contests, but more recently it is 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS over its last eight. The Rangers are just 7-15 on the road this season.
- Los Angeles is 6-7 SU and 8-5 ATS through its last 13 matches but is just 2-6 SU and 4-4 ATS over its last eight. The Angels are an even 13-13 at Angel Stadium this year.
- The total has gone UNDER in eight of the Rangers’ last 13 games with an average combined score of 11. Meanwhile, the total has gone UNDER in six of the Angels’ last 14 contests with an average combined score of 10.21.
- The Rangers are 2-4 in Drew Smyly’s six starts this season and he is 0-3 with a 6.51 ERA and 1.73 WHIP, including one relief appearance. He has failed to throw more than five innings in any outing this year.
- Smyly is averaging the highest BB/9 and HR/9 rates of his career, walking 6.51 batters per nine innings. He has given up at least one home run in five of his seven appearances in 2019.
- Opponents are hitting .252 against Smyly and 51.3 percent of the contact has been hard-hit, which is the third-highest percentage among starters who have thrown at least 20 innings. Los Angeles ranks 25th in hard-hit percentage vs LHP this month.
- Smyly has been roughed up on the road, sporting a 9.00 ERA and a .286 opponent batting average over two away appearances.
- Los Angeles is 3-1 over Griffin Canning’s four outings this season and he is 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He is coming off the first quality start of his career, tossing seven scoreless innings vs Kansas City.
- He is averaging 10.13 K/9, 2.95 BB/9 and 1.69 HR/9 while also holding a HR/FB percentage of 15.4.
- Opponents are hitting just .200 against him and 16.1 percent of the batted balls against have been soft-hit while 37.5 percent have been hard-hit. Texas ranks first in hard-hit batted ball percentage vs RHP this month.
- Canning holds a 2.38 ERA with a .171 opponent batting average over his two trips to the mound at home this season.
- The Rangers are 18-16 against right-handed starters this season, ranking third in batting average and fourth in runs scored. In May, Texas ranks ninth in batting average and seventh in runs scored vs RHP.
- The Angels are just 4-13 against left-handed starters this year, sitting dead last in the majors in batting average and 22nd in runs scored. This month, Los Angeles sits 25th in average and 17th in runs scored vs LHP.
My Best Bet for Texas vs Los Angeles
OVER 9
Drew Smyly has been absolutely horrific this season, sporting an ERA north of 6 and up to 9 on the road and he has a BB/9 rate of 6.51. Canning has been strong this season, especially so at Angel Stadium, but those starts came against weak offensive opponents. The Rangers rank fourth in runs scored vs RHP this season and third in batting average and I think they will find a way to get to Canning and help carry the OVER.
Drew Smyly (TEX) has a BB/9 rate of 6.51.away Los Angeles is 2-6 SU and 4-4 ATS in its last eight games.home Texas ranks first in hard-hit batted ball percentage vs RHP this month.away
