LA Angels vs Kansas

LA Angels are one of the best teams this season. They bring to the club probably the best player in the world Albert Pujols, they have one of the best pitching stuffs and they are one of the favorites this season to win World Series. “We have a good team,” said a deadpan Mike Scioscia, baseball’s longest-tenured manager heading into his 13th season. “We have a much deeper team than we’ve had in a long time, and hopefully it’s going to become productive on the field.” LA Angels were champions of AL West three consecutive years from 2007-2009.

 

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But then Texas Rangers came with all their great offense and last two years, Texas Rangers were in World Series final. This year we will have two great teams battling for first spot in AL West and it will be fun to watch. LA Angels finished last year with record 89-73 (home 45-36). Their biggest problem was not pitching but hitting. They were just 17th in scoring runs and even Kansas City Royals were better. But this year some things changed and I think they will have way better offense with Pujols. Having Pujols in the lineup will improve whole team (career: 0.328, 445 HR, OBP 0.420). 2011 was the worst season for him, but when we look at his stats, even the worst season is better than most players will ever have. I think he will step up this season, because of new team and his new $240 million dollar contract. He had outstanding spring training with avg 0.383 and I am sure he is ready. On other side we have Kansas City Royals, one of the weakest teams in last years. But they are rising slowly. They have one of the best if not the best farm systems in whole MLB. They work with young talents and they have solid team, they have to hold these team in next years and bring some good pitching stuff and they will do fine. They were pretty good last year 10th in hitting and 4th in avg. Even better than LA Angels. But the biggest problem for them is pitching, they finished 27th last year.

 

Pitching matchup:Jared Weaver will pitch for LA Angels. He is one of the best pitchers in the world. He had amazing year 2011: 18-8 with a 2.41 and 1.01 WHIP. He will have way better offense this year and I am sure, that he will have the same or even better record than last year. On other side we have Chen, who had a solid 2011 with ERA 3.77, but this is just one year. His career ERA is 4.52 and whip 1.39 and I highly doubt that he will have another under 4 ERA year. In spring training he was not shining. His ERA during spring training is something under 10 an I am afraid, that LA Angels will beat him badly tonight.

 

Reason for pick: LA Angels are really good team this year, they bring Pujols and Wilson to the team and they have one of the best pitching stuffs and really good hitting. On other side we have Kansas, who is playing every year better and better, but I think this is bad matchup for them because they don’t have Soria for this game and they start with lefty Chen, who is still just an average pitcher, who had one solid season. His career stats show, that he will have to show us something more, before we can trust him. Joakim Soria from Kansas City Royals, one of the best closers in the game is injured and i think this is big loss for them. How I see this game? I think LA Angels will attack Chen, especially Pujols, who got huge contract and he wants to show to the new fans some great hitting in first game. He has great chance, because he will face just an average lefty pitcher. And he hits lefties well. Why I am talking only about Pujols, when we have another players? Because he is player who have big impact on the whole team and if he plays well, whole team will step up. An I am sure they will do everything to win this first game of the year. This bet is LA Angels win by 2 or more. Without Soria I like this bet even more. Play LA Angels.

 

Bet: LA Angels -1.5 @2.01 with Pinnacle Sports