Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/16/2022

Time: 7:05 p.m. ET

Venue: Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX

Where to watch: Bally Sports SoCal, Bally Sports Southwest

DraftKings: Angels -125, Rangers +105

BetMGM: Angels -140, Rangers +115

Caesars: Angels -125, Rangers +105

Angels: 4-4

Rangers: 2-5

It was just a matter of time when the bats of the Los Angeles Angels were going to wake up in this series. Thursday was Mike Trout’s day, and then Friday was Shohei Ohtani’s turn.

It might be a struggle on the mound right now for the reigning AL MVP, but Ohtani erupted out of his offensive slumber with two home runs on Friday to help lead the Angels to a 9-6 win over the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in the second game of the four-game set in Arllington.

This game had about everything you could expect: Ohtani going yard, the Angels bats waking up after an overall collective slump, an intentional walk with the bases loaded – yes, and that’s the second time manager Joe Maddon did that – and plenty of runs to consider the over is going to cash in every game this series.

But yes, Maddon put the intentional walk on Corey Seager with the bases loaded. Rather than risk a grand slam for the second straight night – though Jonah Heim would’ve absolutely cleared one over the wall because logic – he walked Seager in the bottom of the fourth to give the Rangers a 4-2 lead. Mitch Garver added a sacrifice fly later to make it 5-2, and a balk brought a sixth run across the board.

Fortunately, that’s all the Angels gave up before going on their offensive charge of their own. Ohtani  and Kurt Suzuki homered in the fifth to cut the lead to 6-5, and the Angels went on from there. The Rangers spent their night going deep into their bullpen considering this would be a start for Jon Gray (IL), and it showed.

"I thought by walking Seager there, of course, just trying to stay out of a big blow," Maddon said. "And also just to stir the group up, quite frankly.

"I walked out there and looked at (relief pitcher Austin Warren). I said, ‘How ‘bout ...' and then he kind of said, ‘Putting him on.' I said, ‘Yeah, how ‘bout putting him on?' And he kind of smiled. And then the infielders kind of dug it, too."

This isn’t the first time Maddon has intentionally walked in a run for the Rangers. He did it in 2008 as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays and walked Josh Hamilton home with the bases loaded. Fortunately for him, it didn’t backfire despite falling behind four runs.

But that’s the nature of the Rangers’ bullpen as we’ve come to know this season. The Rangers have not been reliable enough to hold a lead, and once again, they blew a chance ot get a victory and show these offensive outputs aren’t for nothing. Even Marcus Semien, who had struggled to this point, went 1-for-3 with two walks. Things were actually going right for once. But the pitching struggled again.

“I've seen it done to the best hitter in the game in Barry Bonds,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “It's obviously a compliment to Seager, to how good he is. Who knows, maybe it's a grand slam or maybe it's a double play? But that wasn't the reason they won. They didn't get out of it because of that. And because of that, we ended up scoring a few runs.”

Who knows what happens if the Angels pitch to Seager? Another grand slam? Maybe a double play? One’s to never know, but at least on this night, Maddon can rest easy knowing that it worked, and the Angels have a chance with awoken bats to possibly earn at least a split in this series.

Noah Syndergaard gets the call for the Angels after throwing 5.1 scoreless innings in his L.A. debut on April 9, despite only throwing one strikeout. If Thor is going to throw these kind of gems, things are going to go well for the Angels. Taylor Hearn is getting another chance after a solid season debut against Colorado, but the key is getting that consistency out of Hearn to earn these kinds of consistent calls. I’d favor Thor and Ohtani in this one. Angels win 7-5

Angels are 28-40 the past three years when the ML is between -100 and -150.

Angels are 49-63 on the road the last three years.

Rangers are 24-24 the past three years when ML is between +125 and -125.

Angels:
Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Mike Trout (R) CF
Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
Jack Mayfield (R) 2B
Max Stassi (R) C
Matt Duffy (R) 1B
Jo Adell (R) RF
Brandon Marsh (L) LF
Andrew Velazquez (S) SS
Noah Syndergaard (RHP)

Rangers:
Brad Miller (L) LF
Marcus Semien (R) 2B
Corey Seager (L) SS
Mitch Garver (R) C
Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B
Adolis Garcia (R) CF
Kole Calhoun (L) RF
Andy Ibanez (R) 3B
Willie Calhoun (L) DH
Taylor Hearn (LHP)

Batting average: Jared Walsh -- .310

Hits: Jared Walsh -- 9

Home runs: Four tied -- 2

RBI: Brandon Marsh -- 7

Wins: Four tied -- 1

Saves: Raisel Iglesias -- 2

ERA: Shohei Ohtani -- 7.56

Batting average: Corey Seager -- .333

Hits: Corey Seager -- 10

Home runs: Two tied -- 2

RBI: Jonah Heim -- 8

Wins: Two tied -- 1

Saves: N/A

ERA: Dane Dunning -- 5.19