Red Sox vs. Angels (June 9): Ohtani, Angels face tall task to avoid 15th straight loss

Shohei Ohtani’s last win as a pitcher came a little over a month ago against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. If he can produce a similar performance tonight in Anaheim, the Angels may be able to finally break their long losing streak and avoid a home sweep at the hands of the surging Sox.

Last night, the Red Sox picked up a third straight one-run win at Angel Stadium, edging the home team 1-0 for the second time in three days. The win took Boston’s current win streak to seven games and extended the Angels’ losing streak to 14 games.

The Angels still have a little more losing to do to find themselves with one of the longest losing streaks in MLB history, but a 15th straight loss will finally see them cede second place in the AL West, which they have maintained because of the state of the division beyond the Houston Astros.

Boston, meanwhile, is further behind the high-flying Yankees in the AL East than the Angels are behind the Astros in the AL West. But with the extra spot in this season’s MLB playoffs, the Red Sox will be sitting pretty if this standout stretch is just the start of things for them.

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels 6/9 Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Matchup: Boston Red Sox (30-27, 17-13 road, 4th in the AL East) vs. Los Angeles Angels (27-31, 15-16 home, 2nd in the AL West)
• Venue & Location: Angel Stadium (Anaheim, California)
• Date: Thursday, June 9, 2022
• Time: 9:38 p.m. Eastern Time (6:38 p.m. local time)
• How to Watch Today’s Red Sox vs. Angels Game: MLB Network

Red Sox vs. Angels Pitching Matchup

• Boston Red Sox: Nick Pivetta (2022: 11 starts, 5-4, 3.50 ERA)
• Los Angeles Angels: Shohei Ohtani (2022: 9 starts, 3-4, 3.99 ERA)

Red Sox vs. Angels Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from our other top reviewed and recommended online sportsbooks may also be included in this article.

Moneyline

• Boston Red Sox -104
• Los Angeles Angels -112

Over/Under

• OVER 8 (-110)
• UNDER 8 (-110)

Run Line

• Boston Red Sox -1.5 (+180)
• Los Angeles Angels +1.5 (-220)

Pivetta in Pursuit of Sixth Straight Win After Magnificent May Turnaround

Ohtani may be the bigger draw between tonight’s starting pitchers, but Pivetta comes in with the better form.

Ohtani gave up 12 runs in his first seven starts this season, six of those coming in one game against the Texas Rangers in April. But he has allowed nine runs over his two most recent starts and has not won since May 5 against Boston. In that outing, Ohtani was outstanding, tossing seven shutout innings, striking out 11, and allowing six hits and no walks.

That loss dropped the Red Sox to 10-16, and after being swept by the Chicago White Sox in the following series, Boston dropped to 10-19. Since then, they are 20-8, and Pivetta has played a key role in that turnaround with his own turnaround.

In his first five starts, the 29-year-old righty was 0-4 with a 7.84 ERA. His turnaround started with six shutout innings against the White Sox on May 7, when he left with a lead but received a no-decision in a 3-1, 10-inning loss. He has won five straight starts since then, and his ERA has gone from 7.84 to 3.50.

Season Splits for Nick Pivetta

• First Five Starts: 0-4, 7.84 ERA, 20.2 IP, 25 H, 18 R, 18 ER, 13 BB, 21 K
• Last Six Starts: 5-0, 1.32 ERA, 41 IP, 22 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 8 BB, 37 K

Last time out, Pivetta tossed seven scoreless innings, allowed just two hits and two walks, and struck out seven in an 8-0 win over the Oakland A’s five days ago.

This will be his fourth start of the season against the AL West, and he has some high standards to live up to tonight. In those three starts, he is 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA and has allowed just two runs, seven hits, and three walks in 23 innings.

Boston Red Sox vs. Los Angeles Angels 6/9 Prediction and Best Bets

Red Sox vs. Angels Prediction: Red Sox to win

Red Sox vs. Angels Best Bets: Red Sox ML (-104 at BetOnline & BetUS)

Other than the five runs and seven hits that the Angels had in the first five innings of Tuesday’s game, which ended up being a 6-5, 10-inning loss, they have not been good, to put it mildly. In the other 23 innings in the series, they have 15 hits and zero runs.

Ohtani may have a better time on the mound than in his two most recent starts, but he will need to support his own cause at the plate as well if the Angels are to avoid the four-game sweep.

Unfortunately for he and the Angels, it’s hard to see them faring too well against a pitcher and a team who at the top of their game right now.

Other MLB Content on Betting News for Thursday, June 9

• Dodgers vs. White Sox 6/9 Prediction and Best Bets
• Pirates vs. Braves Prediction and Best Bets for 6/9
• Yankees vs. Twins 6/9 Prediction and Best Bets