La Angels Angels vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Predictions August 17th 2024

First pitch for Saturday’s Braves vs. Angels interleague matchup is set for 9:38 PM ET from Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. The forecast for the game calls for clear skies and temperatures in the low 80s. MLBN will be televising this one.

The Braves are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -214 compared to the Angels at +180. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs, and Chris Sale will start for the Braves, while the Angels are going with Griffin Canning. Atlanta is 64-58, while the Angels come in with a record of 53-69. This game will be the second of a three-game set, and the Braves are 2nd in the NL East, while the Angels are 4th in the AL West.

Atlanta vs. Los Angeles Key Information

Chris Sale gets the start for the Braves today as he faces the Angels on the road. This year, he has made 22 starts and has a record of 13-3 with an ERA of 2.61. Sale’s WHIP for the season is .98. The left-hander has made 12 quality starts this year and is coming off an outing in which he didn’t allow a run. In that start against the Giants, he went seven innings and had 12 strikeouts. Sale has not taken a loss since June 23rd. He has finished with a no-decision in each of his last four outings.

Marcell Ozuna has been one of the league’s top run producers this season, as his 90 RBIs are 3rd in the MLB and lead the Braves. He also has a team-high 35 home runs and is batting .302. Ozuna has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 14/39 in his last nine games. Jorge Soler has also been on a tear, going 8/21 with four homers in his last six games.

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Overall, the Braves offense is 4th in home runs and is averaging 4.3 runs per game. This season, they are batting .240, which is 14th in the league. As a team, they are 9th in slugging percentage and have the 6th best isolated power mark in the league.

Griffin Canning will be looking to build off his last outing, where he gave up four earned runs in seven innings of work. In that outing, he didn’t give up a homer, but in the two outings before that, he had given up a homer in each. Canning’s ERA for the season is 5.11, and his record is 4-10. Looking at his overall numbers, Canning has made 24 starts, and opponents are batting .263 this year. So far, he has turned in five quality starts and is averaging 6.51 strikeouts per nine innings.

So far this season, the Angels’ offense has been one of the worst in the league, averaging just 4 runs per game, which is 26th in the MLB. They are also near the bottom of the league in most other offensive categories, including team batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. As a team, the Angels are batting just .235 and have an OPS of .682.

Jo Adell comes into the game as the Angels’ leader in home runs but is batting just .201 for the season. Over his last seven games, he has gone 6/26 with two homers. Zach Neto has been the Angels’ top run producer this season, with 61 RBIs, and is also batting .264.

For a money-line pick, we are leaning towards the Angels to come out on top at home. And despite our projections pointing to this being the 2nd lowest-scoring game of the day, we are leaning towards taking the over. Looking at today’s starters, Chris Sale has the 2nd best strikeout projection among today’s starters, but we still like the Angels to come out on top.

Angels Shift Focus to Future While Braves Fight for Postseason Glory

As the Los Angeles Angels proceed with their late-season games, chief Ron Washington has moved his concentration to assessing new ability and anticipating what’s in store. In the mean time, the Atlanta Braves are in the main part of a postseason race, making each game basic. Saturday’s matchup in Anaheim, California, will highlight a group looking forward and one more battling to get its position in the end of the season games.

Angels Embrace Transition Phase

The Angels are utilizing the last stretch of the time to give their more youthful players significant association experience, flagging a progress toward what’s in store. On Friday, veterans Luis Guillorme and Willie Calhoun were assigned for task to account for infielders Nico Kavadas and Jack Lopez, both called up from Triple-A Salt Lake.

Kavadas, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in a trade deadline deal, made his major league debut on Friday as the designated hitter. Although he went 0-for-3 with a walk in the Angels’ 3-2 win over the Braves, Kavadas is a player the organization is excited about. The 25-year-old hit .264 with 19 home runs and 67 RBIs in Triple-A this season, splitting his time between the Red Sox and Angels organizations.

Kavadas was placed in the cleanup spot for his debut, making him only the second player in Angels history to bat fourth in his first major league game, following Tim Salmon in 1992.

“He’s a guy that has some pop in his bat,” Washington said. “He’s used to hitting in the fourth hole.”

Jack Lopez, a versatile utility player, also got the call-up. The 31-year-old has played second base, third base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions in the minors. On Friday, he entered the game as a late-inning defensive replacement, hoping to showcase his versatility and earn a more extended look from the coaching staff.

Adjusting the Lineup

Washington is experimenting with his lineup as the season winds down, trying to find the best fit for his new and existing players. Nolan Schanuel, who has batted leadoff throughout the season, was moved to third in the lineup on Friday, while Taylor Ward was shifted to the leadoff spot.

“We had a meeting about four or five days ago, and there were some suggestions in the room,” Washington explained. “If we’re ever going to take an opportunity to try some things, it’s right now. … What I did with the lineup is not in stone. Just trying to figure some things out. See who can handle what. That’s all it is.”

This experimentation reflects the Angels’ broader strategy of using these games to assess their roster and prepare for future seasons, even as the playoffs remain out of reach.

Canning Takes the Mound

Right-hander Griffin Canning will make his 25th start of the season on Saturday. Canning, who holds a 4-10 record with a 5.11 ERA, is coming off a no-decision in his last start, where he allowed four runs over seven innings against the Washington Nationals. Despite his efforts, the Angels lost that game 5-4 in extra innings. Notably, Canning has yet to face the Braves in his career, adding an element of uncertainty to his performance on Saturday.

Braves Focused on Postseason Push

While the Angels explore different avenues regarding their setup and pivot, the Braves wind up in a vastly different circumstance. The enduring Public Association season finisher competitor is in a tight race, sitting eight games behind in the NL East yet sticking to a one-game lead in the special case standings over the New York Mets.

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The Braves will rely on veteran left-hander Chris Sale, who has been a key figure in their rotation. Sale, who boasts a 13-3 record with a 2.61 ERA, leads the National League in wins and ERA. He’s coming off a stellar performance against the San Francisco Giants, where he threw seven shutout innings in a no-decision that eventually ended in a 1-0 Braves victory in extra innings.

“That’s what we show up to do,” Sale said after the game. “We love the competition. It was fun for me to get out there and just let loose and keep (the score) where it was and give my team a chance.”

Sale’s recent form has been nothing short of dominant. He has not lost a decision since June 27, compiling a 3-0 record with four no-decisions and a 2.20 ERA over his last seven starts. Impressively, Sale has allowed two earned runs or fewer in 11 consecutive starts and 17 of his past 18.

Sale’s Dominance Against the Angels

Sale’s track record against the Angels is particularly notable. Over his career, he has gone 7-0 with a microscopic 1.06 ERA in 10 appearances (eight starts) against Los Angeles. This history suggests that the Angels’ lineup will face a formidable challenge in trying to score against the seasoned left-hander.

Conclusion: Two Teams, Two Directions

As the Angels center around creating ability and exploring different avenues regarding their program, the Braves are focused in on getting a postseason spot. Saturday’s down will be a trial of the two groups’ techniques: the Angels’ future-situated approach against the Braves’ pressing push for season finisher achievement. For the Angels, these games give significant experience to their young players, while for the Braves, each success is vital in their quest for a season finisher compartment.