Los Angeles Angels vs Toronto Blue Jays Picks and Predictions August 14th 2024

Will Wagner looks to fuel Blue Jays to sweep of Angels

From Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, we have an AL matchup between the Blue Jays and Angels. The Blue Jays are favored on the money line (-106) and have a record of 56-64, while the Angels are 4th in the AL West with a record of 52-68. Toronto will be looking to keep their two-game winning streak alive.

The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs, and the forecast for Wednesday’s game calls for clear skies and temperatures in the mid-80s. Tyler Anderson is slated to start for the Angels, while the Blue Jays are starting Jose Berrios.

Toronto vs. Los Angeles Key Information

• Teams: Blue Jays at Angels
• Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim Anaheim
• Date: Wednesday, August 14th
• Betting Odds LAA -113 | TOR -106 O/U 8.5

The Blue Jays Can Win If…

José Berríos will be looking to build off his last outing, where he gave up just one earned run in seven innings of work. In that outing, he only allowed six hits and issued one walk. Against the Angels today, he will be looking to keep the ball in the park. Berríos has allowed at least one homer in each of his last three outings. The right-hander’s ERA for the season is 3.97, along with a record of 10-9. Berríos has made 24 starts, and opponents are batting .236 this season. So far, he has turned in 14 quality starts.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been one of the league’s top power hitters this season, as his 24 home runs are 12th in the league and leads the Blue Jays. Guerrero Jr. is also hitting .320 for the season and has driven in 77 runs, which is also 12th in the MLB. Over his last nine games, he has gone 12/35 (.343) with two homers and five RBIs. George Springer and Daulton Varsho are also in the top three in homers for the Blue Jays, but both are batting below .230 for the season.

As a team, the Blue Jays are 23rd in the league in scoring at 4.1 runs per game. This is a result of being near the bottom of the league in home runs and having a team batting average of just .239. Toronto does come into the game with the 9th best on-base percentage in the league. The Blue Jays are also one of the league’s best teams at not striking out.

• 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 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Blue Jays have an average of 3.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Blue Jays are 5-5
• 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 5.1 runs per game on offense

The Angels Can Win If…

Left-hander Tyler Anderson gets the start for the Angels today as he faces the Blue Jays at home. So far this season, he has made 23 starts and has a record of 9-10. Anderson’s ERA is 2.99, along with a WHIP of 1.15. In his 23 appearances, he has turned in 12 quality starts. Looking back at his most recent outing, Anderson picked up the win vs. the Yankees, going six innings and giving up just one earned run. Before that, he had lost two straight starts. At home, his ERA is 4.22 compared to 2.04 on the road.

So far this season, the Angels offense is averaging just 4 runs per game, which is the worst in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in home runs and have a team batting average of just .236. However, they do have a few hitters who have been swinging the bat well of late, including Zach Neto, who is 9/26 in his last six games and is batting .266 for the season.

Jo Adell has been one of the Angels’ top power threats this season, with a team-high 18 homers, but he is batting just .203 for the season. Adell has gone deep twice in his last six games and has a six-game hitting streak coming into today’s game.

• The Angels are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Angels are 1-4 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 3.0 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 1-2 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

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over in this Blue Jays vs. Angels matchup. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we have our lean on the Angels to come out on top. Los Angeles starter Tyler Anderson isn’t projected to work very deep into the game, but offensively, the Angels have the 13th best team hits projection. On the other side, José Berríos is 13th in our projections in starting pitcher strikeouts.

The Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Angels will conclude their three-game series on Wednesday night in Anaheim, California. With both teams no longer in the playoff race, the focus has shifted to the development of younger players, with an eye on the future.

Will Wagner’s Impressive Debut Fuels Blue Jays

Will Wagner, making his major league debut for the Blue Jays, has quickly made his presence felt. The son of former MLB closer Billy Wagner, Will went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Monday’s 4-2 win. He followed that performance with two more doubles and two RBIs in Toronto’s 6-1 victory on Tuesday.

Wagner’s debut has been especially noteworthy because he’s part of a growing trend within the Blue Jays organization: second-generation MLB players. Alongside Wagner, the Blue Jays’ roster features Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (son of Vladimir Guerrero), Daulton Varsho (son of Gary Varsho), Bo Bichette (son of Dante Bichette), and former Blue Jay Cavan Biggio (son of Craig Biggio). These players have formed a unique bond, united by the shared experience of having fathers who played in the big leagues.

“I think it’s pretty cool that we all have this shared history,” Wagner said. “It’s a little different when your dad has been there before, and it’s nice to have teammates who understand what it’s like.”

Wagner’s success at the plate was immediate. In his first major league at-bat, he doubled on the first pitch he saw and followed it up with an RBI single in his next at-bat. Reflecting on his debut, Wagner expressed his satisfaction, saying, “I don’t know if it could have gone any better. I was just happy we got the win. That was the biggest part.”

Pitching Duel: Berríos vs. Anderson

As the Blue Jays look to complete the sweep, they’ll turn to right-hander José Berríos (10-9, 3.97 ERA), who will make his 25th start of the season. Berríos is coming off a strong performance, allowing just one run over seven innings in a 3-1 victory against Oakland. However, his career numbers against the Angels are less impressive, with a 2-5 record and a 6.31 ERA in nine starts.

Opposing Berríos is Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson (9-10, 2.99 ERA), the team’s standout pitcher this season. Anderson recently secured a 9-4 win against the New York Yankees, allowing just one run on three hits over six innings. His history against the Blue Jays, though, has been mixed, with an 0-1 record and a 4.24 ERA in three career starts.

Angels’ Youth Movement: Zach Neto

While the Angels have struggled this season, 23-year-old shortstop Zach Neto has emerged as a bright spot. Since being promoted to the second spot in the batting order on August 3, Neto has been thriving, hitting .390 (16-for-41) with eight extra-base hits in 10 games. His 3-for-4 performance on Tuesday highlights his growing comfort in the role.

“Ever since I got moved to the second hole, I feel like I’m seeing more pitches and getting better at-bats,” Neto said. “That’s been a big reason for my success lately.”

Looking Ahead

As the Blue Jays aim to sweep the Angels, the focus will remain on the development of their young talent. For players like Will Wagner and Zach Neto, these games offer invaluable experience that could shape the future of their respective teams.

For Toronto, Wagner’s early success is a promising sign, not just for the remainder of this season but for the years to come. The Blue Jays, rich in second-generation talent, have a unique dynamic that could be a key factor in their future success. Meanwhile, the Angels, with rising stars like Neto, are beginning to see glimpses of a brighter future as well.

Whether it’s Wagner’s hot start or Neto’s steady rise, both teams are finding reasons to be optimistic, even as the playoff picture fades from view.

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