Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Athletics Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/15/2022

Time: 4:07 p.m. ET

Venue: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA

Where to watch: Bally Sports West, NBC Sports 

DraftKings: Check back later

BetMGM: Check back later

Caesars: Check back later

Angels: 22-12

A's: 14-20

You ever have one of those moments where you're watching a team and think, "Man, they must be dominating their division?" That's exactly what I think about the Los Angeles Angels right now. The fact they are 10 games over .500 and the Angels are destroying teams the way they are, they should be running away with the AL West.

And then you look at the Houston Astros, you nod, and just walk away with full acceptance. But the Angels have won four of their last five heading into Saturday and will wrap up their four-game series with the Oakland Athletics on Sunday; the teams are playing a doubleheader on Saturday.

Chase Silseth was dominant in his MLB debut on Friday, allowing just one hit in six innings while striking out four, and Andrew Velazquez hit his first homer of the season in the Angels' 2-0 win on Friday. When you can win with pitching and hitting from guys not named Ohtani and Trout, it's a good day.

"I'm speechless, I'm still processing everything,” Silseth said. “Heck of a day, heck of a day. It's a dream to get a phone call or manager telling you that you're going to the big leagues to start a game. When I was initially told, I was emotional because my uncle died this past fall and the last thing he told me was I was going to make it. So that was for him tonight."

Silseth is 21 years old and he was killing it in Double-A before the call-up. He's only the Angels' No. 16 prospect. If he's pitching like this, and can put together some outings with the strong pitching from Shohei Ohtani and Noah Syndergaard, the Angels might have something. Even throw in a strong bullpen and now we're cooking with gas.

"To get it out of the way was awesome," said Silseth, who had his parents, two sisters, his brother and his grandparents at the game. "But you have to stay in the fight at that point and just keep going, because you've still got a whole ballgame."

Another day ticks off the calendar before we officially move the Oakland A's to Las Vegas for reasons. One of those reasons is continuing to watch games at the Oakland Coliseum and realizing how pitiful it is that you could probably get tickets for $2. Again, your Triple-A affiliate should not be outdrawing you. It's quite ridiculous, if you ask me.

That effort Friday against the Angels was yet another example how no one has given a care about what's going on in Oakland right now. It truly is remarkable that this group can just be this bad and only produce two hits against a 21-year-old call up from Double-A.

Daulton Jefferies actually played well, also going six innings and allowing five hits while striking out four. Problem is he gave up the only two runs of the game on 88 pitches.

“It looked like he had a little different mindset,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said of Jefferies. “There was a little bit of emotion behind him on the mound tonight. I think he had a good game plan and attacked hitters down in the zone, which is his strength. His fastball had good life on it tonight and he mixed in a lot of good changeups.”

But alas, the Athletics are truly in the realm of a rebuild. Matt Olson is gone, so there really isn't any dangerous bat in the lineup anymore. Watching a young man named Sheldon be your leading hitter doesn't really do much for this instance.

I just don't trust the A's. I know they're going to get theirs and win some games, but until I see some consistent play from them, choose them at your own risk. Angels win 6-3

Check back later for betting trends.

Angels:
Brandon Marsh (L) LF
Luis Rengifo (S) 2B
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Jared Walsh (L) 1B
Jack Mayfield (R) RF
Tyler Wade (L) 3B
Andrew Velazquez (S) SS
Austin Romine (R) C
Aaron Whitefield (R) CF
SP - Patrick Sandoval

Athletics:
Tony Kemp (L) 2B
Sheldon Neuse (R) 1B
Chad Pinder (R) LF
Sean Murphy (R) DH
Ramon Laureano (R) RF
Christian Bethancourt (R) C
Kevin Smith (R) 3B
Elvis Andrus (R) SS
Cristian Pache (R) CF
SP - Frankie Montas

Batting average: Mike Trout -- .323

Hits: Shohei Ohtani -- 34

Home runs: Mike Trout -- 9

RBI: Jared Walsh -- 23

Wins: Three tied -- 3

Saves: Raisel Iglesias -- 8

ERA: N/A

Batting average: Sheldon Neuse -- .284

Hits: Sheldon Neuse -- 33

Home runs: Sean Murphy -- 4

RBI: Two tied -- 17

Wins: Paul Blackburn -- 4

Saves: Dany Jimenez -- 6

ERA: Paul Blackburn -- 1.73