New York Yankees vs Los Angeles Angels Picks and Predictions August 7th 2024

Aaron Judge’s next challenge comes as Yankees meet Angels

The Angels and Yankees are set to face off in an AL matchup at 4:05 PM ET at Yankee Stadium in New York, NY. Los Angeles comes in with a record of 49-63 and they will be looking to keep their two-game winning streak alive. The Yankees are 67-46 and they have Luis Gil on the mound on Wednesday.

Looking at the money line odds, the Yankees are at -276 compared to the Angels at +223. The over/under line is currently 8.5 runs, and the forecast for Wednesday’s game in New York calls for light rain and temperatures in the upper 60s.

Los Angeles vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Angels at Yankees
• Where: Yankee Stadium New York
• Date: Wednesday, August 7th
• Betting Odds NYY -276 | LAA +223 O/U 8.5

The Angels Can Win If…

Davis Daniel and the Angels are on the road to take on the Yankees today. Daniel has started 3 games this season, and he has a win, a loss, and a no-decision. In his last outing, he went 5 innings and gave up 1 earned run on 5 hits. He struck out 5 batters and walked 1.

Los Angeles comes into today’s game with the league’s 26th ranked scoring offense, averaging just 4 runs per game. They have been a bit better at home, averaging 4.1 runs per game. As a team, the Angels are batting just .235, which is 17th in the league, and their OPS of .680 is also near the bottom of the league rankings.

Logan O’Hoppe has been the Angels most consistent hitter this season, with a batting average of .277, and he has gone 5/19 with two homers over his last five games. O’Hoppe’s 16 home runs are the most on the team and 15th most in the league. Taylor Ward and Jo Adell also have 16 homers this season, but both players have struggled with their batting averages.

• The Angels are 4-6 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 4-5-1 in their last ten games.
• The Angels have an average of 2.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Angels are 5-5
• Looking back across the Angels last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• 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 3.1 runs per game on offense

The Yankees Can Win If…

Luis Gil gets the start for the Yankees today and comes in with a record of 11-5 and an ERA of 3.19. So far this year, he has made 21 starts, and opponents are batting .172 off the right-hander. Gil’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.10. In his last outing, Gil picked up the win, going 5 1/3 innings and giving up three earned runs on five hits. Before that, he had gone six innings in back-to-back outings, giving up just one earned run in each. Gil has been pitching well lately, as he has allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last five outings.

As a team, the Yankees are the best offensive team in the league, averaging 5.2 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 5.6 runs per contest. New York is also 2nd in the league in home runs and lead the league in walks and on-base percentage. The team’s collective batting average of .252 is 8th in the league.

Not only do the Yankees have the league’s top offense, but they also have the top two home run hitters in the league. Aaron Judge’s 41 homers are the best in the league, and Juan Soto is 5th with 28 homers. Judge has been on a tear of late, going 16/33 in his last nine games with six homers and 14 RBIs.

• The Yankees are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Yankees are 2-3 vs. the run line.
• New York has an over/under record of 9-1 in their last ten games.
• The Yankees have an average of 6.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Yankees are 7-3
• Looking back across the Yankees last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• New York has gone 3-0 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Yankees have averaged 7.2 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Look for the Yankees to come out on top as they host the Angels today, and we are leaning towards taking them on the money line. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is projected to be the 10th highest-scoring game of today’s slate, and this one has our 2nd highest total home run projection. Today, the Angels have the 6th lowest team strikeout projection, and Luis Gil has the 7th best strikeout projection among today’s starters.

Aaron Judge is producing numbers similar to 2022 when he broke the American League single-season home run record, and the New York Yankees’ main power threat will have the full attention of the visiting Los Angeles Angels when the teams meet Tuesday to open a three-game series.

Judge is up to 41 homers and 103 RBIs this season while also leading the major leagues with 92 walks, including 11 intentional free passes.

Four of those intentional walks were in the last two games, and Judge might see fewer pitches to hit against in the series against the Angels.

The Yankees are on a 7-1 tear going back to July 27 after dropping 23 of their previous 33. Judge has five homers and is batting .517 (15-for-29) over the past eight games.

Judge hit home runs in the first inning both Friday and Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays. After his home run Saturday, he was issued an intentional walk with nobody on and two outs in the second inning of an eventual 8-3 win. On Sunday, he was issued three free passes before DJ LeMahieu hit the game-winning single in the 10th inning of a 4-3 win.

“You want (Judge) at the plate,” said Juan Soto, who hit a home run Sunday and is batting .386 (32-for-83) over his past 20 games. “I’m doing my best to put him up, and you see them pass him over. It just really makes me mad. I don’t like that. I want them to challenge him and see what he can really do. It is what it is. It’s part of the game. They’re trying to win too, so you respect that.”

The Angels are 12-9 in their past 21 games, and 10 of those are by three runs or fewer. They enter off a pair of one-run home victories over the New York Mets, following Saturday’s 5-4 win with a 3-2 victory Sunday when they overcame three errors.

Los Angeles saw relievers Jose Marte, Mike Baumann, and Roansy Contreras allow two hits over four scoreless innings, while Matt Thaiss and Kevin Pillar had sacrifice flies.

“They did a tremendous job,” manager Ron Washington said of his relievers. “Before the game, I stopped all three and asked them if they were ready to finish the game. But it worked out.”

The Angels are expected to welcome Anthony Rendon back to the lineup Tuesday after the third baseman missed another week with lower back tightness. Rendon was placed on the injured list on July 26 after missing nearly three months with a hamstring strain and is expected to be dropped from the leadoff spot.

Yankees right-hander Luis Gil (11-5, 3.20 ERA), who is 2-0 with a 2.76 ERA in his past three outings, will open the series and attempt to match Carlos Rodon for the team lead in wins. Gil last started July 29 in Philadelphia when he allowed three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings in a 14-4 win.

Gil’s return to his earlier season form is coming after he went 0-4 with a 9.37 ERA in four starts from June 20-July 7. On May 29, Gil dominated when he allowed one run on two hits and notched nine strikeouts in eight innings of a 2-1 road win against the Angels.

Los Angeles right-hander Davis Daniel (1-2, 4.91 ERA) will make his fifth career start and has sandwiched two strong outings around two losses.

After taking consecutive losses against Oakland and Texas in early July and spending some time at Triple-A Salt Lake, Daniel returned to the majors in late July and on Wednesday allowed one run on five hits over five innings in a no-decision to the Colorado Rockies.

Aaron Judge’s Stellar Season

Current Performance

Aaron Judge is having an outstanding season, with 41 home runs and 103 RBIs, putting him on pace to rival his historic 2022 performance when he broke the American League single-season home run record. Judge leads the major leagues with 92 walks, indicating his ability to draw pitches and force strategic decisions from opposing teams.

Impact on the Yankees

Judge’s presence in the lineup has been pivotal for the Yankees. In the past eight games alone, he has hit five home runs and maintained an impressive batting average of .517 (15-for-29). His ability to consistently get on base and drive in runs makes him the centerpiece of the Yankees’ offensive strategy.

Intentional Walks and Strategy

The article highlights the strategic challenges teams face when pitching to Judge. He has been intentionally walked 11 times this season, including four times in the last two games alone. This indicates that opposing teams are willing to avoid pitching to him, even when there are no runners on base, to prevent potential damage.

Yankees’ Recent Form

Team Turnaround

The Yankees have rebounded with a 7-1 record since July 27 after a challenging period where they lost 23 of 33 games. This resurgence can be attributed in part to Judge’s exceptional form, but also to the contributions of other key players like DJ LeMahieu and Juan Soto.

Key Contributions

In addition to Judge’s performance, DJ LeMahieu’s clutch hitting has been crucial, including a game-winning single in the 10th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays. Juan Soto has also been impressive, hitting a home run and maintaining a .386 batting average over his last 20 games.

Los Angeles Angels’ Challenges and Opportunities

Team Performance

The Angels have been resilient, going 12-9 in their last 21 games, with 10 of those victories coming by three runs or fewer. Their ability to win close games, despite errors and challenges, demonstrates their determination and grit.

Bullpen Strength

The Angels’ bullpen has been a key factor in their recent success. Relievers like Jose Marte, Mike Baumann, and Roansy Contreras have delivered strong performances, allowing only two hits over four scoreless innings in their recent win against the New York Mets.

Lineup Dynamics with Anthony Rendon

The return of Anthony Rendon from injury is a significant boost for the Angels. Rendon’s presence in the lineup adds depth and enhances their offensive capabilities. However, his past injuries have led to lineup adjustments, including a shift from the leadoff spot.

Pitching Matchups

Luis Gil’s Role for the Yankees

Yankees right-hander Luis Gil has been a reliable performer, with an 11-5 record and a 3.20 ERA. Gil’s recent form, including a 2.76 ERA over his past three outings, indicates a return to the strong performances seen earlier in the season. His ability to handle pressure situations will be crucial as he faces the Angels.

Davis Daniel’s Potential for the Angels

Angels right-hander Davis Daniel is set to make his fifth career start. With a 1-2 record and a 4.91 ERA, Daniel has shown potential in his recent outings. His performance against the Colorado Rockies, where he allowed only one run on five hits over five innings, suggests he is finding his rhythm in the majors.

Postponement and Scheduling Impact

Weather Disruption

The series opener between the Yankees and Angels was postponed due to a forecast of heavy rain and thunderstorms. This postponement led to the scheduling of a doubleheader, which can have strategic implications for both teams.

Doubleheader Dynamics

Playing a doubleheader adds complexity to the series, as teams must adjust their strategies for managing player fatigue, bullpen usage, and lineup decisions. This scheduling change introduces an element of unpredictability and challenges teams to adapt quickly.

Conclusion

The upcoming series between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels promises to be an exciting matchup, with Aaron Judge’s stellar performance at the forefront. Judge’s ability to draw intentional walks and create opportunities for his teammates makes him a key player to watch. Meanwhile, the Angels will look to capitalize on their bullpen strength and the return of Anthony Rendon to counter the Yankees’ power.

The pitching matchups, particularly the duel between Luis Gil and Davis Daniel, add another layer of intrigue to the series. With weather-related scheduling changes and strategic adjustments required, this series offers a captivating narrative for baseball fans.

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