Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers 6/15/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Los Angeles Angels will meet the crosstown rival Los Angeles Dodgers in an interleague matchup at Dodger Stadium. The Angels started the season well, but have fallen off a cliff as of late losing thirteen straight games, firing their manager, and dropping to 8.5 games back in the AL West at 29-33. The Dodgers continue to be one of the best teams in baseball but after losing six of their last ten, have fallen into a tie for the NL West with the San Diego Padres.

With the MLB’s highest payroll, the Dodgers are loaded all across the diamond with starts at basically every position. The offense leads the league in scoring offense averaging 5.15 runs per game with Mookie Betts leading the charge. Betts is hitting .278 with a team-high 39 RBIs, while speedy shortstop Trea Turner leads the team in batting average (.298) and is tied for fifth in the MLB with 46 RBIs.

The left-handed Tyler Anderson will get the ball for the Dodgers and hope to continue his perfect 7-0 season. It helps to have the best offense in baseball behind you, but Anderson has issued just nine walks compared to 55 strikeouts and posted a 1.02 WHIP across his 58.2 innings this season. His last start was his worst of the year, allowing four runs on four hits in just three innings.

The Angels' fall from grace is a combination of injuries, the bats going cold, and the bullpen imploding. Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani continue to be superstars, Trout in the midst of another MVP-caliber season despite minor injuries – leads the team with 16 home runs and in batting average hitting .293. Ohtani hasn’t been as dominant as last season but has been solid hitting .255 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs.

This is an interesting pitching matchup between two lefties with Reid Detmers taking the mound for the Angels. Detmers is 2-2 with a 3.83 ERA on the year, anchored by a no-hitter against the Rays just over a month ago. His last start was short, but solid, throwing 4.1 scoreless innings allowing three hits and walking two as the Angels failed to score a run in a 1-0 loss to the Red Sox.