It’ll be a star-studded affair on Sunday Night Baseball when the Los Angeles Angels host the New York Yankees. After winning the first two games of the series, the Yankees will be going for the sweep on Sunday night. The Los Angeles Angels are -115 over the New York Yankees on Sunday.
In addition to taking the first two games of the series from the Angels, the Yankees are the hottest team in baseball, riding an eight-game winning streak. While the New York lineup has started to catch fire, especially after pounding out 11 runs against the Angels on Saturday night, pitching has been the key to their winning, streak, as the Yankees are giving up just over two runs per game over their last eight.
Things are moving in the opposing direction for the Angels, who are just 3-8 in their last 11 games. The team’s brilliant start has been negated by a sudden cold stretch offensively. During their last 11 games, the Angels have only managed to score more than four runs once, which is not a winning formula.
The Big Man
Surprisingly, the ace of New York’s rotation this year has been C.C. Sabathia. In four starts this year, Sabathia is rocking a .86 ERA. Even a brief stint on the DL couldn’t slow him down. Sabathia doesn’t yet have his pitch count up, as he’s not thrown more than 84 pitches in a start this season, which could force the Yankees to go to their bullpen early. However, Sabathia has now allowed an earned run since returning from the DL, giving up just six hits over 10.1 innings.
Sabathia has also posted good numbers against nearly every hitter in the Los Angeles lineup. Albert Pujols is just 4 for 20 against Sabathia, while Justin Upton his a mere 1 for 8. Naturally, the lone exception is Mike Trout, who is 5 for 14 with two doubles and two home runs in his career against Sabathia. But the Angels will need more than Trout to score runs against Sabathia, and they aren’t likely to get help from Shohei Ohtani, who’s currently sidelined with a sprained ankle.
The Other Lefty
Meanwhile, the Angels have their own lefty to send to the mound Sunday night in Tyler Skaggs. Much like Sabathia, Skaggs has been the surprising ace of his team early in the season. Skaggs is 3-1 with a 2.96 ERA over his first five starts. Last time out, he tossed seven shutout innings against Houston’s high-powered offense, so he’s certainly capable of doing the same against the Yankees Sunday night.
Of course, the Yankees just scored 11 runs against the Angels last night, as their lineup is starting to look like the unconquerable force we thought it’d be heading into the season. Aaron Judge and Didi Gregorius have already combined for 17 home runs, with Gary Sanchez, Giancarlo Stanton, and Miguel Andujar chipping in as well. Despite his brilliance in his last time out, Skaggs will have his work cut out for him.
Snapping the Streak
All the momentum heading into this game is on the side of the Yankees, but the Angels are too good to get swept at home for a second time this month. Despite the power in New York’s lineup, they still have too many players with low batting averages, so they can be pitched to. Skaggs will have a good night and the Angels will scratch out enough runs to get the win. Bet the Los Angeles Angels -115 over the New York Yankees on Sunday Night Baseball.
