LA Angels vs LA Dodgers Picks and Predictions September 4th 2024

Dodgers’ Bobby Miller takes mound vs. Angels with something to prove

The Dodgers and Angels will square off in an interleague matchup at 9:38 PM ET at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. The Dodgers are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -204 compared to the Angels at +171. The over/under line is currently at 10 runs.

Los Angeles (NL) is currently 84-55 and on a two-game winning streak, and they lead the NL West. The Angels are 5th in the AL West with a record of 57-81. Bobby Miller will start for the Dodgers, while the Angels are going with Griffin Canning.

Los Angeles vs. Los Angeles Key Information

• Teams: Dodgers at Angels
• Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim Anaheim
• Date: Wednesday, September 4th
• Betting Odds LAD -204 | LAA +171 O/U 10

The Dodgers Can Win If…

Right-hander Bobby Miller gets the start for the Dodgers today as he faces the Angels on the road. Miller has made 10 starts this season and has a record of 2-3 with a 7.25 ERA. His WHIP for the season is currently 1.66. In his 10 appearances, Miller has turned in two quality starts and is averaging 8.06 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents have hit .277 this season off Miller, and he has allowed a total of 12 home runs. In his most recent outing, Miller picked up the win, going five innings and giving up three earned runs on three hits. He has given up at least one homer in four straight outings.

Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts have been swinging the bat well for the Dodgers of late. Freeman has gone 9/23 in his last six games, including four homers and 10 RBIs. Betts is currently on a four-game hitting streak and has gone 11/33 in his last nine games, also with three homers and 13 RBIs.

Los Angeles comes into the game with the league’s 4th best scoring offense at 5 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.1 runs per contest. As a team, they are 3rd in home runs and have the league’s top offense in terms of OPS. Shohei Ohtani has been a big part of their power surge, as he is 2nd in the league with 44 homers and has driven in 99 runs, which is 4th in the MLB.

• The Dodgers are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Dodgers are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Los Angeles has an over/under record of 7-3 in their last ten games.
• The Dodgers have an average of 7.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Dodgers are 6-4
• Looking back across the Dodgers last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Los Angeles has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Dodgers have averaged 5.7 runs per game on offense

The Angels Can Win If…

Right-hander Griffin Canning is getting the start for the Angels today as he faces off against the Dodgers at home. Canning has made 26 starts this season and has a record of 4-12 with an ERA of 5.19. Looking at his overall numbers, Canning has a WHIP of 1.39 and has turned in just five quality starts this year. Per nine innings, he is averaging 6.62 strikeouts compared to 3.25 walks. Canning has allowed a total of 25 home runs this year. In his last outing, he took the loss, giving up three earned runs in five innings of work. Before that, he had given up at least four earned runs in three straight starts.

So far this season, the Angels offense is averaging just 3.9 runs per game, which is 27th in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories, including team batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. As a team, the Angels are also just 20th in home runs. However, they do have three players with at least 20 homers.

Heading into today’s game, Taylor Ward is on a 13-game hitting streak and is batting .240 for the season with 20 homers. Zach Neto also has 20 homers and is batting .252. Both players are at the top of the Angels’ home run leaderboard. Over his last six games, Mickey Moniak is hitting .364 with four homers.

• The Angels are 3-7 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Angels are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Los Angeles has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Angels have an average of 3.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Angels are 2-8
• Looking back across the Angels last five games as the favorite, they are 1-4
• Los Angeles has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Angels have averaged 2.9 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Needless to say, we are leaning towards the Dodgers coming out on top in today’s matchup vs. the Angels. And with our projections pointing to this being the highest-scoring game of the day, we are leaning towards taking the over. The Dodgers have the best home runs projection in the league today, and Bobby Miller is 10th to pick up a win. On the other side, Griffin Canning is projected to have a short outing for the Angels.

Right-hander Bobby Miller will step onto the mound Wednesday night with two primary goals: to help the Dodgers defeat their Los Angeles-area rivals, the Angels, and to prove to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts that he belongs on the playoff roster. As the regular season winds down, every start counts, and Miller’s performance will be under close scrutiny as the Dodgers prepare for the postseason.

Miller’s Struggles and Determination to Bounce Back

The Dodgers (84-55) had high hopes for Bobby Miller after his impressive rookie season in 2022, where he posted an 11-4 record with a 3.76 ERA across 22 starts. His ability to strike out 119 batters over 124 1/3 innings showcased his potential as a top-tier pitcher. However, the 2023 season has been a rough ride.

Miller is currently 2-3 with a 7.25 ERA in just 10 starts, far below expectations. Shoulder inflammation sidelined him for two months early in the season, and his struggles led to a five-week demotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City during July and the first half of August. Despite the challenges, Miller remains optimistic about finding his rhythm in time for the postseason.

Signs of Improvement but a Key Issue

Since returning from Triple-A, Miller has started to regain his form, going 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA in his last three starts. His most recent outing against the Baltimore Orioles saw him deliver a solid performance, allowing just three runs over five innings in the Dodgers’ 6-3 victory. Miller threw four scoreless innings before stumbling in the fifth, where a walk, a hit batter, and a three-run homer blemished an otherwise strong outing.

“It was four and two-thirds innings of really good pitching and then just one bad pitch,” Miller reflected. “Seems to be the story of my last few outings. It’s just one bad pitch that I look back on, and unfortunately, it’s over the fence. But you know, one day, one day soon, it’ll fall.”

The recurring issue for Miller has been the tendency to make a critical mistake late in his outings—often in the form of a single bad pitch that leads to a costly home run. For Miller to secure a spot on the Dodgers’ playoff roster, he’ll need to demonstrate that he can avoid these slip-ups and deliver consistent results.

High Stakes for Miller and the Dodgers

The stakes are high for both Miller and the Dodgers as they approach the playoffs. While the team is performing well overall, with an 84-55 record, solidifying a strong postseason roster is a top priority for manager Dave Roberts. Miller’s potential to be a key contributor is clear, but he’ll need to prove that he can overcome his recent struggles and pitch at a high level when it matters most.

Wednesday’s game will be Miller’s first career start against the Angels, and a strong performance could go a long way in convincing the Dodgers’ coaching staff that he’s ready for the pressure of postseason baseball.

Griffin Canning Looks to End a Tough Season on a High Note

On the opposite side, the Angels (57-81) have little to play for in terms of postseason hopes, but many of their players, including Wednesday’s starting pitcher Griffin Canning, are looking to finish the season strong. Canning has struggled throughout 2023, with a 4-12 record and a 5.19 ERA. He’s winless in his past four starts and is aiming to regain some momentum as the season winds down.

Canning will make his 27th start of the season and 28th overall appearance, hoping to find some consistency after a difficult campaign. Like Miller, Canning also has something to prove, though in his case, it’s more about personal redemption than preparing for playoff pressure.

Taylor Ward’s Journey of Resilience

While the Angels are out of playoff contention, left fielder Taylor Ward offers another compelling storyline of resilience. After suffering a season-ending facial injury in 2023 when he was hit by a pitch, Ward has worked hard to bounce back this year. Despite showing flashes of power, hitting his 20th home run in Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Dodgers, Ward has experienced ups and downs this season.

His struggles were compounded when he was hit in the head by a pitch again on June 30, though he was fortunately uninjured this time. However, the incident affected his performance, as he slumped to a .174 average with two home runs and a .498 OPS in July.

“Getting hit in the head this year again, that set me back for sure,” Ward said. “But I’ve definitely moved past that.”

Ward’s performance improved in August, where he batted .283 with a .762 OPS, though he managed only two home runs. He credits part of his resurgence to journaling key aspects of his swing, a process he believes will help him prepare for the 2024 season.

“Just going to cement these key things that I believe are going to help me for next year,” Ward said, looking to build on the progress he’s made late in the season.

What to Watch for in Wednesday’s Game

Wednesday’s matchup presents a contrast between a Dodgers team preparing for the playoffs and an Angels squad focusing on individual player development. Bobby Miller will be the player to watch as he battles not only the Angels but also his own recent struggles, hoping to make a statement that he’s playoff-ready.

For Griffin Canning and the Angels, the focus will be on finishing the season on a positive note and gaining momentum for next year. Taylor Ward’s efforts to finish strong after a tough season also provide an intriguing subplot.

As the two Los Angeles-area teams face off, there’s plenty on the line for both individuals and organizations. While the Angels may not be in the playoff race, they, like the Dodgers, have players with something to prove as they look ahead to the future.

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