Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/20/2022

Time: 9:38 p.m. ET

Venue: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA

Where to watch: NBC Sports California, Bally Sports West

DraftKings: Angels -160, Athletics +140

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: NL

Athletics: 16-24

Angels: 24-16

It's already depressing to see the Triple-A affiliate out-draw the MLB team. Then the Oakland Athletics go out and lay a giant egg against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday and somehow that was even more depressing than anticipated.

The A's got destroyed 14-4 by the AL Central-leading Twins on Wednesday at home, and now have to turn their attention to facing a very angry Los Angeles Angels team starting on Friday.

To make matters even worse, Sonny Gray got the win for the Twins over his former team, striking out five in six innings of work. Safe to say the veteran, who played from 2013-17 with the A's, was happy to do such a whooping.

"I'd never beaten the A's before so I really wanted to, selfishly, personally, do that," Gray said.

Things got so bad as the game went on that the A's were throwing outfielder Chad Pinder to the wolves as a pitcher. He allowed three runs on two hits and it was actually an exciting time for him, because what else do they have to cheer for right now?

“I tried to throw a couple of changeups,” Pinder said. “But when I was lobbing it, I couldn’t get it over the plate. I guess I need a little bit more practice.”

Things you don't expect to be on your bucket list: Being an outfielder and pitching in a Major League game. That's the kind of thing we live for in Oakland right now.

“The only time I could really throw a strike was when I was just throwing like I would normally throw in the infield,” Pinder said. “I wasn’t like pumping up or anything. I was just doing what I normally would do.”

Not sure if we could realistically mark the "Los Angeles Angels getting swept by the Texas Rangers" off our Bingo card, but that's the kind of time the Angels had in Arlington this week. And in a three-game series that included a 5-run eighth inning Tuesday and capped with a walk-off homer in the 10th on Wednesday, the Angels are likely ready to flush this one and move on.

The Angels had just seven hits but plated five runs. And everything went according to plan with a lead going into the bottom of the 10th, but Nathaniel Lowe's walk-off home run sent the Angels back home and a rare sweep from the suddenly pesky Rangers.

"They played as well. They beat us fair and square. So give them credit that they've been ascending a bit," Angels manager Joe Maddon said "So it's just another example of why our division is so difficult."

But despite a slow run, the Angels shouldn't feel so bad about how this week went. Jared Walsh continues to swing a hot bat after bringing in three runs on a 2-for-4 night, including a solo homer that tied it in the ninth. Taylor Ward and Mike Trout each had just one hit at the top of the order.

Shohei Ohtani did really well in six innings, striking out seven and only allowing two runs. Unfortunately, that wasn't merely enough for the Angels to avoid that sweep. But the good news is they come home to an inferior team waiting for them and can right the wrong from this week.

Unless you're a Rangers fan, then it absolutely wasn't a wrong.

With both teams off on Thursday, the Angels return home with just as much rest as the A's. Oakland is sending ace Paul Blackburn to the mound, which is exactly what they needed in this situation, going against L.A.'s Chase Silseth. I don't want to think the Angels will lose twice in a row, but I'll trust Blackburn to get Oakland a win. Athletics win 5-4

A's are 36-57 as an underdog the past three seasons.

A's are 5-1 this season as an underdog of +150 or more.

Angels are 10-6 as a favorite this season.

Athletics:
Tony Kemp (L) 2B
Sheldon Neuse (R) DH
Ramon Laureano (R) CF
Seth Brown (L) 1B
Christian Bethancourt (R) C
Chad Pinder (R) LF
Luis Barrera (L) RF
Elvis Andrus (R) SS
Kevin Smith (R) 3B
SP - Paul Blackburn

Angels:
Taylor Ward (R) RF
Mike Trout (R) CF
Shohei Ohtani (L) P
Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
Jared Walsh (L) 1B
Luis Rengifo (S) 2B
Chad Wallach (R) C
Tyler Wade (L) LF
Andrew Velazquez (S) SS
SP - Chase Silseth

Batting average: Sheldon Neuse -- .272

Hits: Sheldon Neuse -- 34

Home runs: Sean Murphy -- 4

RBI: Sean Murphy -- 20

Wins: Paul Blackburn -- 4

Saves: Dany Jimenez -- 7

ERA: Frankie Montas -- 3.67

Batting average: Taylor Ward -- .375

Hits: Shohei Ohtani -- 40

Home runs: Mike Trout -- 11

RBI: Shohei Ohtani -- 27

Wins: Michael Lorenzen -- 4

Saves: Raisel Iglesias -- 8

ERA: N/A