The Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox will play Saturday at Fenway Park. First pitch from Boston is at 4:10 p.m. ET. The Red Sox are moneyline favorites and the game total is 9.5 runs.
Los Angeles (7-5 SU and 5-7 RL) won two of three against Washington in its previous series. The Angels will turn to left-hander Tyler Anderson (1-0 with a 4.22 ERA in two starts) on Saturday.
Boston (5-7 SU and 5-7 RL) was swept by Tampa Bay last series. The Red Sox will counter with right-hander Nick Pivetta (0-1 with a 0.90 ERA in two starts) in game two of the series.
The Angels should handle their business against the Red Sox this weekend if they're true contenders. Anaheim has two of the game's best players but will risk losing one or both if it doesn't get into the playoffs soon. The last year the Angels made the postseason? 2014. The last year they won a playoff series? 2009.
Los Angeles averages 5.42 runs per contest (8th) with a .240 batting average (20th) and a .741 OPS (13th). The Angels have hit 17 home runs (6th) and stolen five bases (21st) this season. The Anaheim pitching staff boasts a 3.70 ERA (5th) and a 1.21 WHIP (7th) with five quality starts.
Your Angels Home Run & RBI leader: @logan_ohoppe ??#GoHalos pic.twitter.com/KAVnb4p9mP
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) April 12, 2023
The Angels will start Anderson on Saturday in hopes of landing another quality start from the lefty. The 33-year-old got off to a hot start in his first start of the season, shutting down Oakland in six innings. He wasn't as sharp in his second start versus Toronto, surrendering five runs on five hits, including three long balls. The southpaw has faced Boston only once in his career, giving up one run on four hits in 4.1 innings in 2021 as a member of the Seattle Mariners.