Rays -122

Both the Rays and Angels were in the playoffs last season and both have their eyes set on making the dance this year. At the start of the season you wouldn't have been called crazy if you predicted both teams to make the playoffs and battle it out for the right to represent the American League in the World Series.

That can still happen but right now they are both battling to make the playoffs.
The Rays are 61-51, a very solid record, but since they play in the AL East that record is only good enough for third place. Tampa currently sits 8.5 games behind the Yankees and their best bet at making the postseason is the AL Wild Card. The Rays are 2.5 games behind the Red Sox for the Wild Card.

This afternoon the Rays send Jeff Niemann to the mound; on the year he's 10-5 and the Rays are a money-making 14-6 in his 20 starts. The Rays have won 12 of his last 15 starts overall and nine of his last 12 road starts. Niemann has been a pleasant surprise and a big reason why the Rays are still in contention.

The Angels always seem to make the playoffs but this season's injuries have hurt them though not too much if you look at the standings. LA has a 66-44 record good enough for the division lead in the AL West. Last year the Angels had their division locked by the start of the second half but this season it's more of a battle. The Angels are 4.5 games up on the Texas Rangers who are playing very well this season.

The Angels find themselves the underdog in this one because they are sending a rookie pitcher to the mound. The Angels have several good trends behind them to justify taking them but this afternoon the pitching edge has to go to the Rays and that's why they'll take this one. Play on Tampa Bay.