Boston Red Sox at Los Angeles Angels 6/9/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Los Angeles Angels will continue their first series without fired-manager Joe Madden when they host the Boston Red Sox at Angel Stadium. Los Angeles is in the midst of a thirteen-game losing streak and in so has plummeted down the standings in the AL West, now trailing the Astros by 9.5 games at 27-30. The Red Sox are on the opposite track, winning seven of their last ten games and slowly climbing up the stacked AL East, moving to 29-27 after six straight wins but still 11.5 games back of the New York Yankees.

Boston has been anchored by a solid offense and fine-enough pitching staff through this run of good play, they’re sixth in the MLB in scoring offense with 4.80 runs per game and fifth in OPS (.735). Trevor Story started the year slow for his new-look roster but had a fantastic month of Mat to lead the team with 41 RBIs. JD Martinez is hitting .359 on the year, second in the MLB, but has seen his power dip with just five homeruns.

The Red Sox will hand the ball to opening-day starter Nathan Eovaldi who is coming off three excellent starts in a row. Eovaldi has pitched a combined 21.2 innings – including a complete game – in those three starts, striking out 25 compared to just three walks, and has allowed four earned runs – capped off with six scoreless innings in a win over the A’s in his last outing. 

Los Angeles has two of the biggest stars in the MLB but a history of underperforming and missing the postseason, although the recent struggles are alarming, it’s early and this team is talented enough to make a run. The offense has hit a lul averaging just 2.1 runs per game across their last eight games. Mike Trout continues to produce with 14 home runs and 30 RBIs, but was removed from Tuesday’s game due to groin tightness and is day-to-day.

The 22-year-old rookie Reid Demmers will get the start for the Angels. Demmers held his own against one of the best offenses in baseball in his last outing throwing 4.1 scoreless innings but allowed five hits and walked three in a 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees. Demmers had his coming-out party just over a month ago when he no-hit the Rays and has a 4.20 ERA on the year.