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(925) Oakland Athletics at (926) Los Angeles Angels
Oakland Athletics The Athletics are tossing an "opener" at the travel weary Angels on Tuesday night. The American League West has tackled the lineup and the mediocre pitching staff of the Angels across the last few seasons. LA is 12-17 against their division foes dating back to last year. And the Angels have been traveling halfway across the country the last two days and begin tonight's three-game set against the Oakland Athletics in what is essentially a road game.
Montas starts the opener against the Halos in an event he could well pitch just two frames or as many as six. The situation will dictate itself tonight during the event. It isn't a stretch to consider Montas as the ace of the A's rotation. He has surrendered three earned runs or fewer in 10 of 11 starts this season and while his last start was arguably his least effective of the season he has a 2.57 ERA over his past six outings. Montas touches 97 mph with his fastball, has added a splitter as one of his secondary pitches this season and his plus-slider is inducing a high percentage chase rate. His strikeout rate is just above league average but his BB ratio is elite.
Angels young righty Griffin Canning has attractive surface numbers, a 3.06 ERA that includes a 2.57 ERA in five May starts. But the package you believe you are receiving with Canning is an illusion. Canning's xFIP is nearing 4.50 and his 89% strand rate is unsustainable with his shortage of swings and misses. Ignore his 16.4% swinging strike rate as hitters are finding a routine and sequence to his game night arsenal. Combine a strand rate nearly 90 percent and a BABIP of .203 and regression is bottom line inevitable.
This is a right-hander that was recalled to fill some innings for a damaged and aging Angels rotation. Upon his call up Griffin owned a 5.49 ERA across 59 Innings in triple-A last season. Furthermore his xFIP in triple-A this season of 3.47 was much higher than his ERA.
Canning has had his 15-minutes in 2019 and doesn't have the skill set to survive his underlying peripherals.
ATLANTA @ PITTSBURGH | 6/04 | 7:05 PM EDT
6:10 PM
The Pirates have lost 10 of their last 14 during a stretch in which they played 27 games in 27 days before finally getting a day off Monday. They are offered with some value Tuesday on the run line (+1.5, +110) against Atlanta in their series opener. Braves starter Max Fried is coming off one of his worst outings of the season, while the Pirates are 5-1 in the last six home starts by Steven Brault.
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