Larry Ness | MLB Money Line Mon, 10/19/09 - 8:05 PM

triple-dime bet 961 ANA (-130) BetUs vs 962 PHI
Analysis:
After two games facing the elements and the cold weather of the new Yankee Stadium, the Angels will return to Anaheim and get a near-perfect day for baseball on Monday afternoon (as Torii Hunter said, "Now I can work on my tan again"). The Angels blew numerous chances to win in Game 2 (which would have evened the series), losing 4-3 in 13 innings which took 310 minutes. The Angels batted just .154 in the two games in The Bronx (12 hits over 22 innings!) with only four extra-base hits (all doubles), giving them a pathetic slugging percentage of .205. All of a sudden A-Rod has turned into "Mr October" for the Yanks and while their pitching rotation isn't deep, Sabathia, Burnett and Pettite have combined for a 1.62 ERA. Andy Pettite gets his second straight Game 3 start, after beating the Twins 4-1 in the ALDS (6.1 IP / 3 hits / 1 ER / 7-1 ratio). The win allowed him to tie John Smoltz for most wins in the postseason all-time (15). The Angels face a daunting task against the Yanks (ML-best 103-59 in the regular season and 5-0 so far in the postseason) but the Angels owned MLB's second-best record this regular season (97-65), as well as its best moneyline mark at plus-$2,176 (just about $1,000 better than New York's plus-$1,178 mark). The Angels didn't rely on "the long ball" during the regular season but led all of MLB in team batting average (.285) and scored more runs (883) than any team other than the Yankees. They excelled at creating runs through multiple-hit rallies and heads-up base-running and had no trouble in three games against Pettite this year, getting 21 hits and scoring 14 ERs off him in 16.1 innings of work over three sta~rts (7.71 ERA). Meanwhile, the Angels counter with Jered Weaver, who had his best season since his 2006 rookie season when he went 11-2 with a 2.56 ERA. Weaver was 16-8 in 2009, posting a 3.63 ERA. He made 33 regular season starts and then beat the Red Sox 4-1 in Game 2 of the ALDS here in Anaheim (7.1 IP / 2 hits / 1 ER). He was terrific at home all year, going 10-3 with a 2.72 ERA (allowed just 97 hits in 122.1 innings), as the Angels won 13 of his 18 starts (includes the postseason win). The Angels are 51-32 at home this year while averaging 5.46 RPG (includes ALDS) and are 38-17 vs lefties in 2009, after beating Lester 5-0 in Game 1 of the ALDS. Pettite's in their 'crosshairs' next in this "must-win" situation. Championship Series GOY 25* LA Angels.