Athletics at Angels 8/10/18 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Oakland Athletics open a three-game series on the road Friday against American League West rivals the Los Angeles Angels. The A’s are off Thursday, but defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday 3-2. Mike Fiers, a newly acquired starting pitcher threw 5 1/3 solid innings for the A’s and kept Oakland five games behind Houston, the leader in the AL West.

Los Angeles is off Thursday as well, and won its third straight over the Detroit Tigers 6-0 on Wednesday to complete a sweep of its three-game series with the Tigers. Justin Upton and Albert Pujols went yard in back to back at bats during the fifth inning, while Kole Calhoun hit a long ball as well for the Angels, helping Jaime Barria even his season record at 7-7. Matt Chapman leads the A’s with a .270 batting average. Khris Davis has the A’s lead in home runs with 32 and in RBIs with 88. Oakland has a team batting average of .248 while opposing hitters are averaging .240 at the plate against Athletics pitching. On Friday, the A’s will send Brett Anderson to the mound. The lefthander this season is 2-3 with an ERA of 4.64, 21 Ks and 11 BBs.

Andrelton Simmons leads the Angels with a .309 batting average and in hits with 122. Mike Trout has a team high in home runs with 30. Justin Upton leads the team in RBIs with 65. Los Angeles has a team batting average of .247 while opposing hitters are averaging.245 at the plate against Angels pitching. On Friday, the Angels will send Felix Pena to the mound. The right-hander this season is 1-3 with an ERA of 4.97, 36 Ks and 17 BBs.