The Tampa Bay Rays (66-55) will host the Los Angeles Angels (52-70) on Wednesday in the third contest of a four-game series. This preview was written before the conclusion of Tuesday's game, in which the Rays went into on a three-game winning streak after beating the Angels 2-1 on Monday, which evened the season series up at 2-2. The Angels are on a three-game losing streak, which started with two losses to the Tigers.
The Angels lost for the sixth time in seven games and remain the least profitable team in baseball, according to covers.com. The offense has struggled, scoring just five total runs in the last four games. Shohei Ohtani left Sunday's game after four innings with a stomach virus and went 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter in Monday's loss. Mike Trout went 1 for 4, and drove in the Angels' only run on Monday, his first RBI in four games since returning from the injured list. In 83 games this season, Trout has a .365 on-base percentage, with 24 home runs and 52 RBI. Ohtani has a .357 on-base percentage and leads the team with 27 home runs and 72 RBI in 118 games as a hitter. The rest of the order has given few reasons for opposing pitchers to fear, with Jared Walsh hitting .165 with two home runs and three RBI and Taylor Ward hitting .173 with four home runs and 10 RBI, in 30 games since the All-Star break.
Billy, this is the Los Angeles Angels. It's a Major League franchise with two of the 10 best players in the game. Its only defect is that the rest of the roster and farm system has been left for dead for a decade pic.twitter.com/UFtsarlRKw
— BetMGM ?? (@BetMGM) August 23, 2022
According to MLB.com, the Angels are listed to start Mike Mayers on Wednesday. Mayers has not made a start this season and is 1-0 with a 5.22 ERA, with 27 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings this season. The Los Angeles bullpen should be heavily involved in this game and ranks 17th with a 3.94 ERA.