Los Angeles Angels at Arizona Diamondbacks 6/13/21 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Los Angeles Angels travel on the road to Chase Field to take on the struggling Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks have lost nine of their ten games and currently have the worst record in the MLB at a dismal 20-44 on the season, already 20 games back in the stack NL West division. The Angels have won seven of their last ten games but remain six games back in the AL West, improving to 31-32 with the win in the series opener.

Los Angeles has been a solid offensive unit this season ranking fifth in team batting average hitting .249 and scoring 4.71 runs per game ranking 10th in scoring offense. Shohei Ohtani has made his impact felt not only as a solid young pitcher, but one of the best hitters in baseball with 17 home runs and 45 RBIs while hitting .267 as a team. The injury to Mike Trout hasn’t helped the Angels, but Ohtani has stepped up to shoulder the load in the heart of the lineup.

The left-hander Patrick Sandoval will get the ball for the Angels and although he’s 0-2 on the season, he’s posted a solid 3.62 ERA on the year. Sandoval’s last start was a solid outing, scattering five hits and two earned runs while posting double-digit strikeouts for the first time in his career. Sandoval has a career 4.88 ERA and has bounced between the bullpen and bottom of the rotation.

The Diamondbacks have been a middle-of-the-pack offense to slightly below average offense this season hitting .231 as a team and scoring 4.19 runs per game, ranking 22nd and 19th respectively. Eduardo Escobar has had a nice start to the season, leading the Diamondbacks in home runs (15) and RBIs (42) while hitting a solid .240. First baseman Pavin Smith is hitting .293, which is top-20 in the MLB but has hit just 5 home runs.

Arizona has not announced a starter yet, but the pitching staff has really struggled this season posting a combined ERA of 4.96 and opponents are hitting .261.