You’ve heard the cliché, “Two teams going in opposite directions.” It certainly applies to the Los Angeles Angels and Chicago White Sox — with the Halos moving toward the sun and the Pale Hose nearing Pluto.
So it’s only natural to do a double-take when looking at Angles vs White Sox odds for Friday’s series opener on the South Side: Chicago, which has lost nine of its last 10 games, is favored over Los Angeles, which is on a 12-4 roll.
Where does the betting value lie with this contest? Props.com analyzes Angels vs White Sox odds and ends for Friday’s marquee AL matchup.
Odds via DraftKings and updated as of 7 p.m. ET on April 29.
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Los Angeles Angels (13-7) vs Chicago White Sox (7-11)
First Pitch/TV: 7:10 p.m. ET/MLB.TV
Moneyline: White Sox -155/Angels +135
Run Line: White Sox -1.5 (+140)/Angels +1.5 (-160)
Total: 7.5 (Over -115/Under -105)
Pitching matchup: RHP Jimmy Herget (1-0, 6.48 ERA, 1.560 WHIP) vs RHP Lucas Giolito (0-0, 1.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP)
Season series: First meeting. The Angels went 5-2 against Chicago in 2021, including taking two of three games in the Windy City.
Did you know: Los Angeles has won the season series from the White Sox 5-2 three straight seasons (no meetings during the 2020 pandemic-shortened campaign). Going back to 2011, the Angels are 47-24 against Chicago, winning the season series nine of 10 times.
About the Angels
Hits & Misses: Los Angeles completed a four-game sweep of Cleveland and ran its winning streak to a season-high five in a row with Thursday’s 4-1 home victory. During its ongoing 12-4 run, the Angels have posted 11 multi-run victories. They also surrendered three runs or fewer in nine of those 12 wins. Manager Joe Maddon’s squad leads the AL West by 1.5-games over the Mariners. To nobody’s surprise, reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani and three-time AL MVP Mike Trout are shouldering most of the offensive load. The duo has combined for eight home runs, 20 RBI (10 apiece) and 28 runs (14 apiece). While Ohtani is hitting just .238, Trout leads baseball with a 1.256 OPS and ranks seventh with a .352 batting average. The pitching staff is third in opponents’ batting average (.204) and tied for fifth in WHIP (1.10).
Herget vs White Sox: Noah Syndergaard was supposed to take the ball tonight for Los Angeles. But shortly before first pitch, the Angels announced the right-hander was under the weather and will not start. It’s a big drop-off to Herget, whose ERA is more than three times that of Syndergaard’s 2.12. Herget is generally a reliever, and he hasn’t thrown more than two innings this season, so he might not be out there long tonight. In 8.1 innings this season, he’s allowed 13 hits and six runs (all earned), though he has 10 strikeouts and zero walks.
Key injuries: SS David Fletcher (hip strain) landed on the 10-day IL this week. Aside from several pitchers dealing with long-term injuries, the Angels are otherwise healthy.
About the White Sox
Hits & Misses: Chicago snapped an eight-game losing skid with Wednesday’s 7-3 home victory over the Royals, then turned around Thursday and dropped the series finale 5-2. In losing nine of their last 10 contests, the White Sox have scored three runs or fewer eight times. Offense has been a problem all season for Chicago, which is without several injured starters (see below). The Sox rank near the bottom of MLB in multiple categories, including: walks (38, 30th); doubles (25, T-28th); OPS (6.08, 26th); runs per game (3.35, T-24th); hits per game (6.94, 24th); and batting average (.212, 23rd). One bright spot offensively: LF Andrew Vaughn, who is batting .300 with four homers and 12 RBI. His .975 OPS is 11th best in MLB.
Giolito vs Angels: Giolito suffered an abdominal injury on Opening Day after pitching four scoreless innings against the Tigers in Detroit. He subsequently landed on the 10-day injured list and didn’t return until Sunday in Minnesota. He allowed a run on four hits and three walks, with nine strikeouts in four innings, and got a no-decision in Chicago’s 6-4 loss. Giolito went 11-9 with a 3.53 ERA in 31 starts last season, notching 201 strikeouts in 178.2 innings. He’s 2-0 with a 3.81 ERA in five career starts against the Angels.
Key injuries: RP/closer Liam Hendriks (back spasms) missed the last three games and is questionable Friday. CF Luis Robert (groin) and 2B Josh Harrison (back) are out indefinitely, while 3B Yoan Moncada (oblique) and LF Eloy Jimenez (hamstring) are expected to be sidelined until early May and late June, respectively.
Notable Trends
- LAA is on positive runs of 5-1 on the road, 6-2 as an underdog and 19-7 vs. the AL Central
- LAA is 3-10 in its last 13 series openers
- CWS is 70-33 in its last 103 home games
- CWS is 1-6 in its last seven as a favorite
- Over is 7-1-1 in LAA’s last nine road games
- Under is 5-2-1 in LAA’s last eight overall
- Over is 3-1-1 in CWS’ last five overall (all at home)
- Over is 5-1-1 in Giolito’s last seven starts
- LAA is 7-2 in its last nine games at Chicago
- Under is 13-6 in the last 19 Angels-White Sox battles in Chicago
Angels vs White Sox Odds and Action
UPDATE 6:45 P.M. ET FRIDAY: This matchup saw a pitching change, with Syndergaard no longer toeing the slab for Los Angeles. Jimmy Herget will now start for the Angels. As such, the moneyline came off the board, and Chicago reopened as a -150 favorite in TwinSpires Sportsbook’s Angels vs White Sox odds market. The White Sox are now up to -162, with 54% of bets on the Angels and 66% of cash on the Sox.
“Sharp play on the White Sox,” TwinSpires director of retail trading Zachary Lucas said.
The total reopened at 7.5 (Over -120) and is now 7.5 (Under -112), with 60% of bets on the Over/57% of cash on the Under.
UPDATE 10 A.M. ET FRIDAY: Chicago opened as a -130 home chalk at DraftKings late afternoon Thursday, then fell to -125 on the way to -120. The Sox returned to -130 opener Thursday night. The moneyline is currently sitting at White Sox -130/+110. The total opened and remains at 7, with several juice adjustments ranging from Over -115 to Under -120. It’s currently at 7/Under -115.
Check back prior to first pitch for additional Angels vs White Sox odds and action updates.