MLB Picks & Predictions: Angels at Mariners

Written September 1, 2009 by Jordan Haimowitz

angels-mariners-predictions-090109 The Angels are approaching that time where they start to pull away from the AL West. The Texas Rangers are now six games back of LAA in the division as pitching woes have started to haunt the Rangers. With that said, the Halos have not exactly been playing superb baseball going 5-5 in their last 10 games. Last night Vlad Guerrero exploded with two home runs and four RBIs in a 10-0 rout of Seattle. Juan Rivera added a home runs as well which was his 21st of the season. This is as deep a team as there is in baseball, Kendry Morales is a long shot MVP candidate hitting .314 with 30 homers and 94 RBIs so far this season. Torii Hunter is getting his swing back after being out with an injury for a long time as well. You throw in Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu who both hit over .300 and you have one solid core with several other contributors to this team. On the mound for the AL West leaders tonight is Ervin Santana who has had an up and down season coming back from injury. Santana is 7-7 with a 5.94 ERA this year. However, that ERA is an indication of his early season woes, of late he has been solid not giving up more then three earned runs in any of his last four starts. As a matter of fact, Santana tonight should be thrilled that he takes the mound away from home. This season Ervin is 1-5 with an 8.08 ERA at home as opposed to his road starts where he has gone 6-2 on the year. In his five August starts he went 4-1 with a 3.27 ERA which included a CG shutout. Now while he has struggled against Seattle this season with a 6.75 ERA in two starts, tonight he will dazzle as he is showing signs of getting back to his all-star form. Expect seven innings of two run ball from Santana and for Chone Figgins to have a big game especially on the base paths. Tuesday’s baseball lines show the Angels as -135 favorites against the Mariners with the total set for 9 runs.

The Seattle Mariners are 68-64 on the season and the furthest thing from a rollover. I am as guilty as anybody this year for being very critical about this team, basically waiting and calling for their collapse. To my fault, it just has not happened. Along with Ichiro who is hitting .359 from the plate, guys like Russell Branyan who leads the team with 31 home runs and has added 76 RBIs, Jose Lopez has been a solid bat with 20 home runs and a team leading 79 RBIs as a second baseman and perhaps the teams biggest surprise has been center fielder Franklin Gutierrez who’s hitting .284 with 14 homers and 53 RBIs but has made his major impact felt in the field where he has been remarkable. On to tonight’s matchup where rookie starter Doug Fister takes the mound with a 1-1 record and 3.42 ERA. Fister is coming off the worst start of his young career against Kansas City where he gave up 5 runs in 6 innings of work. The rookie has not made enough starts to give out situational stats, his tendencies on whether he prefers home/away starts or day/night outings are not clear yet. What is clear is that this kid has talent as his numbers have been impressive overall. Tonight he faces a very tough lineup which just about all of the Angels hitters are very patient. Expect Fister to be decent tonight with my prediction being 6 innings of 4 run baseball. If Seattle Plans on winning this game they will need better contribution from the bottom half of their order. The role players like Mike Sweeney, Jack Wilson and sad to call him a role player, but Ken Griffey Jr. as well whether he is in the lineup or for pinch hit duties.

Haimo’s Hot Notes: The Los Angeles Angels are 24-9 in their last 33 road games. The Seattle mariners are 5-11 in their last 16 Tuesday games. Both teams have played .500 baseball over their last 10 games overall. The Angels are 10-2 in Ervin Santana’s last 12 starts against Seattle. I do not expect a 10-0 blow out like last night but the Angels will still come away with a slight victory tonight. Plays below.

Jordan’s Free Picks: Los Angeles Angels -137 & Under 9 Runs

Jordan’s Premium Picks: Yes Sir, a good ole fashion Haimo House Cleaning. 3-0 yesterday which was good enough for the top units profit of the night. Jordan crushed the books with the Vikings/Texans UNDER pin pointing that game with precision. The Rays took care of business during the day while the underdog Astros was a gem. Tuesday will be more of the same results. Jump aboard now and win with one of the hottest cappers around the globe. 6-1 in his last seven plays overall, check capper page for all results.

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