Thursday Night MLB Preview: Los Angeles Angels Vs. Kansas City Royals

Pitching Matchup:

Garrett Richards (11-9, 3.51 ERA) vs. Jeremy Guthrie (8-7, 5.84 ERA)

Garrett Richards: This will be Richards first time facing a feisty Royals team in 2015. Richards has faced the Royals 8 times (two starts) in his career thus far, being tagged for 11 runs in 18.1 innings pitched. Richards has been an important contributor to a competitive Angels' team in 2015, but the majority of his success has been at home. Richards ERA is just over 2.3 points higher on the road, but the more troubling stat is the near 0.5 different in WHIP (0.983 at home, compared to 1.457 on the road).  Richards will hope for some run support tonight, as in his three post All-Star losses, the Angels have managed to score only three measly runs.

Jeremy Guthrie: As Guthrie struggles through his third full season with the Royals, the right hander looks to find some consistency and produce his first quality start since the July 3rd. The aging pitching is in tough against a potent Angels lineup featuring All-Stars Mike Trout and Albert Pujols. Guthrie has neither excelled at home or on the road this season, but his ERA at home in 2015 is only 4.43 (compared to over 7 outside of the pitcher friendly Kauffman Stadium). He still has given up four earned runs or more 4 times in 11 home games this season and could very well be tagged for similar numbers tonight.   

Another MVP for the Young Outfielder?

It is easy to make the argument that Mike Trout of the Angels is the best player in MLB. Trout won his first MVP in 2014, at the ripe age of 23 and is a frontrunner once again in 2015. Of course he does have some serious competition from Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson. Both players are having great seasons, but if Trout gets hot and helps lead the Angels to a division crown, it'll be hard to not give the young outfielder his second MVP award.

Wrap it up before Labour Day

The Royals own a whopping 12 game lead in the AL Central division and are on pace to be the first team in the Majors to lockup their division and a trip to the postseason in 2015. With the closest team being the slumping Twins, it is possible for the Royals lockup their first division title in 30 years by the time the kids are starting school.

Category : Betting Picks

Tag : Angels , garrett richards , jeremy guthrie , kansas city royals , Los Angeles Angels , mlb , mlb betting , Royals , thursday night baseball

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