LA Angels vs Toronto Blue Jays Picks and Predictions August 13th 2024

Kevin Gausman is starting for the Blue Jays on Tuesday, as they are on the road to face the Angels and Carson Fulmer. The forecast for today’s game in Anaheim calls for clear skies and temperatures in the mid-80s.

The Blue Jays are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -148 compared to the Angels at +125. The over/under line is at 8.5 runs, and SNET will be televising this AL matchup.

Toronto vs. Los Angeles Key Information

• Teams: Blue Jays at Angels
• Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim Anaheim
• Date: Tuesday, August 13th
• Betting Odds TOR -148 | LAA +125 O/U 8.5

Toronto is sending right-hander Kevin Gausman to the mound today vs. the Angels. He has made 23 starts this year and has a record of 10-8 with a 4.42 ERA. Gausman’s WHIP for the season is 1.27, and opponents are batting .241 off him this year. In his last outing, he gave up two earned runs in eight innings of work, picking up the win. Before that, he had picked up the win in three straight starts. Gausman has two complete games and one shutout this year.

For the season, the Blue Jays are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 24th in the league. They have been slightly better on the road, averaging 4.2 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .240, which is 16th in the league, and their team on-base percentage of .312 is 11th in the MLB.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. comes into the game with a batting average of .321, and he is 11th in the league with 76 RBIs. He has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 11/30 in his last eight games. Daulton Varsho and George Springer are the Blue Jays’ top home run hitters, but Varsho is batting just .205 for the season, and Springer is hitting just .222. Springer has also struggled of late, going 4/27 in his last seven games.

• The Blue Jays are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Blue Jays are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Toronto has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Blue Jays have an average of 3.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Blue Jays are 4-6
• Looking back across the Blue Jays last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Toronto has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Blue Jays have averaged 4.6 runs per game on offense

Carson Fulmer gets the start for the Angels today as he faces the Blue Jays at home. So far, he has made 29 appearances and five starts. Fulmer’s record for the season is 0-2, and he has an ERA of 3.74. Looking at his overall numbers, Fulmer has a WHIP of 1.20 and has issued 4.01 walks per nine innings compared to 8.55 strikeouts. One of his 29 appearances was a quality start. In that outing, he went 5 2/3 innings and gave up one earned run. Fulmer’s ERA at home is 1.64 compared to 6.3 on the road.

Los Angeles comes into the game with a team batting average of just .236, which is 19th in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in both OPS and slugging percentage. However, they do have a couple of power threats in Zach Neto and Jo Adell, as Neto has 17 homers and Adell has 18. Neto has been especially hot of late, going 13/39 in his last 10 games with four homers.

Overall, the Angels are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 25th in the league. They are also just 20th in home runs and have been striking out at an average rate this season. As a team, the Angels are averaging 8 strikeouts per game.

• The Angels are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Angels are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• Los Angeles has an over/under record of 3-5-2 in their last ten games.
• The Angels have an average of 4.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Angels are 7-3
• 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 4.9 runs per game on offense

Angels Hopeful Logan O’Hoppe Will Be Back Against Blue Jays

As the Los Angeles Angels gear up for their second game against the Toronto Blue Jays, all eyes are on catcher Logan O’Hoppe. After leaving Monday’s game with knee soreness, there was some concern about his availability. But Angels manager Ron Washington is optimistic that the young catcher will be back in action on Tuesday. With O’Hoppe struggling at the plate lately, his performance could be crucial as the Angels try to bounce back.

O’Hoppe’s Knee Scare and Potential Quick Return

Logan O’Hoppe was pulled from Monday’s game after six innings because of some soreness in his right knee, which understandably worried fans. However, Ron Washington quickly calmed everyone down, explaining that it was just a precautionary move and that O’Hoppe should be ready to go for Tuesday’s game.

Washington’s decision to rest O’Hoppe shows the team is being careful, especially with the season getting into its critical stages. O’Hoppe is a big part of the Angels’ lineup, so keeping him healthy is a top priority.

O’Hoppe’s Slump: Is It Pressure or Just Bad Luck?

Logan O’Hoppe has had a solid season, even getting some All-Star buzz, but lately, he’s been in a bit of a funk. Since moving to the third spot in the batting order, he’s been 0-for-24 in his last 24 at-bats. Overall, his numbers in the third spot are pretty rough, with just two hits in 34 at-bats (.059) and 14 strikeouts.

Ron Washington thinks O’Hoppe might be feeling the pressure of trying to do too much in his new spot. “When I put him in the third hole, I told him not to change what he’s been doing, but it looks like he’s trying to do damage,” Washington said, emphasizing that O’Hoppe needs to focus on making solid contact instead of swinging for the fences.

O’Hoppe, on the other hand, doesn’t totally agree with that take. He sees his slump as just part of the usual ups and downs of a baseball season. “If you’re not getting hits and it’s tied to moving up in the order, people are going to say you’re trying too hard. But that’s not it at all—it’s just a tough stretch,” O’Hoppe said.

Washington’s Faith in O’Hoppe

Despite O’Hoppe’s recent struggles, Ron Washington is sticking with him in the third spot. Washington sees this as an important learning experience for the young catcher, helping him get used to the pressure of a high-profile role. “I’m not moving him out of the third hole, so he’s going to have to figure it out or he won’t get to hit there in the future,” Washington said, showing his belief in O’Hoppe’s potential.

This decision to keep O’Hoppe in such a critical batting position, even during a rough patch, highlights the trust Washington has in his young player to push through and come out stronger on the other side.

Pitching Matchup: Fulmer vs. Gausman

Tuesday’s game features an interesting pitching matchup with Carson Fulmer starting for the Angels and Kevin Gausman taking the mound for the Blue Jays. Fulmer, who’s moved from the bullpen to the starting rotation, has been solid but is still looking for his first win as a starter this season. He comes into the game with a 0-0 record and a 3.60 ERA over his last five starts.

Fulmer doesn’t have a lot of experience against the Blue Jays, with his only previous outing against them back in 2018. The Angels will be counting on him to deliver a strong start to help them recover from Monday’s loss.

On the flip side, Kevin Gausman will pitch for Toronto. He’s had an up-and-down season, with a 10-8 record and a 4.42 ERA, but he’s done well against the Angels in the past, holding a 4-3 record in nine career starts against them. Gausman’s experience makes him a tough opponent for the Angels.

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Keeps Shining

Even though the Blue Jays have had their struggles, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been a bright spot. His 22-game hitting streak just ended, but during that run, he put up some insane numbers: a .494 batting average, 10 homers, 22 RBIs, and a 1.583 OPS. He didn’t waste any time getting back on track, though, going 2-for-4 with a walk on Monday.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider praised Guerrero’s discipline at the plate, saying, “He’s not wasting at-bats, and that’s what makes a good player great. The way he approaches each at-bat really sets him apart.” Guerrero’s consistency will be key for the Jays as they try to take the series.

As the Los Angeles Angels continue their series against the Toronto Blue Jays, all eyes will be on Logan O’Hoppe’s return to the lineup. Despite his recent struggles, the young catcher has the full backing of his manager, who sees this as a valuable learning experience. With intriguing pitching matchups and stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the mix, this game could be a turning point for both teams as they push through the latter part of the season.

The Lean

For a money-line pick, we are leaning toward the Blue Jays to come out on top on the road vs. the Angels. And despite our projections pointing to this being the 5th lowest-scoring game of today’s slate, we are actually leaning toward taking the over. Toronto starter Kevin Gausman has the highest strikeout projection among today’s starters.