Los Angeles Angels dual-threat star Shohei Ohtani returns to the mound on Thursday night – he should hit for himself as well as Ohtani usually does – when he faces the Detroit Tigers in a series opener from Anaheim. It’s the MLB debut of touted Tigers pitching prospect Matt Manning and is shown exclusively on YouTube.

How to Bet Tigers at Angels MLB Odds & TV Info

• When: Thursday, 9:38 PM ET
• Where: Angel Stadium
• Probable pitchers (away/home): Matt Manning/Shohei Ohtani
• TV: YouTube

Why Bet on Detroit? | Betting Odds for MLB

Due to the regionalized schedule implemented by MLB in 2020, the Tigers and Angels did not meet last season. In 2019, the two teams split six meetings, including Detroit taking two-of-three at Angel Stadium. The Tigers have not won a season series against the Angels since 2010.

The Tigers are in full rebuild mode and not very good – but also playing quite a bit better of late. Earlier this week, future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera reached 5,000 total bases in his career. He became the 22nd player in MLB history to reach that milestone. The double that put Cabrera over the mark was the 585th of his career, tying him with Rafael Palmeiro for 20th on the all-time list, and was his 1,094th extra-base hit, breaking a tie with Dave Winfield for 22nd.

With starting pitchers Matthew Boyd and Spencer Turnbull on the injured list, the Tigers will call up touted prospect Matt Manning to start here in his big-league debut. Manning, 23, is the organization’s No. 3 prospect in the farm system, according to MLB Pipeline. He was the last healthy starting pitcher left on the 40-man roster not already in the big leagues.

In seven starts for Triple-A Toledo this year, Manning posted an 8.07 ERA, 10 walks, 36 strikeouts and 11 home runs allowed in 32� innings. His most recent start, June 9 against the Louisville Bats, was much better than that. He gave up two runs on four hits and two walks in six innings, with eight strikeouts.

“Mentally, he’s in a good place and that was important for me to hear and see,” manager AJ Hinch said. “He talked about his early Triple-A struggles and also about his last start which was very good. He’s very realistic about it. But he’s throwing the ball the best he’s thrown it this season after his last start.”

Manning had been as steady a minor-league performer as they come since being drafted ninth overall in 2016 — compiling a 3.49 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 11.0 K/9 across five seasons – before the minor struggles this year in Triple-A. The COVID-19 pandemic deprived Manning and many others of a minor league season in 2020, and he also dealt with a right forearm strain. He retains “frontline starter potential” according to Baseball America.

Why Bet on LA Angels? | Betting Odds for MLB

This game will air exclusively on YouTube. Matt Vasgersian, Rajai Davis, Mark Gubicza and Alex Curry will call the game, which will feature in-game interviews and a trophy presentation for the Player of the Game.

Will the Halos have All-Star third baseman Anthony Rendon in the lineup? Rendon suffered a mild triceps strain on Monday night and hasn’t played since, but the Angels are optimistic that he will be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. If he did have to go in IL, it would be the third time this season for Rendon, who has also missed time with a strained left groin and a left knee contusion.  Rendon, who is coming off a solid series against the D-backs, is off to a slow start by his standards, slashing .241/.314/.365 with four homers and 30 RBIs in 45 games. Of course, the Angels are without superstar Mike Trout for at least another month.

Angels dual-threat star and MVP candidate Shohei ranks third in the majors in extra-base hits (36), is tied for third in home runs (18), fifth in slugging (.606), seventh with a .954 OPS, is tied for seventh in triples (3) and total bases (130) & is tied for ninth with 46 RBIs. Ohtani currently leads the designated hitter All-Star vote with 526,608 votes.

He’ll be on the mound for this one and should still hit, which would mean the Angels technically wouldn’t have the DH. Ohtani (6-4, 3.67) will be making his 10th pitching start of the season and fifth on the road. The 10 starts would match MLB career high total from the 2018 season.

He didn’t factor in the decision in last start on Friday at Arizona after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing two earned runs on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. In his past six starts, Ohtani has a 2.67 ERA (33.2 IP – 10 ER) with 45 strikeouts. He faced Detroit once before in career, and did not factor in decision on May 30, 2018 at Comerica Park after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing one earned run on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Game Trends

• Tigers are 24-49 in their last 73 during game 1 of a series.
• Tigers are 17-35 in their last 52 Thursday games.
• Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. American League Central.
• Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Tigers are 17-35 in the last 52 meetings.

Expert Prediction

• Angels 5, Tigers 2

  

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