Dodgers vs Angels Picks and Predictions: Kershaw K(O)s Halos

The Freeway Series gets underway Friday night in Los Angeles with a battle between two left-handed starting pitchers. It’ll be the first meeting in what’s only a two-game series.

The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw continues to befuddle batters in his 15th season in the majors. He’ll look to keep the Dodgers on the winning road, as they’ve gone 9-1 across their last 10 games.

Patrick Sandoval gets the nod for the Angels, who are looking to turn things around after going just 1-6 in their last seven games

Check out our MLB picks and predictions for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, June 15. 

Dodgers vs Angels odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Angels opened as +182 underdogs at home. The line has come in and the Angels now reside between +160 and +170 depending on the book. The total opened at 8 but has been bet down to 7.5 at current across most books.

Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right up until first pitch and be sure to check out the full MLB odds before placing your bets.

Dodgers vs Angels predictions

• Prediction: Dodgers ML (-179)
• Prediction: Under 8 (-110)
• Best bet: Kershaw Over 6.5 Ks (-104)

Picks made on 7/15/2022 at 9:50 a.m. ET.
Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.

Dodgers vs Angels game info

• Location: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
• Date: Friday, July 15, 2022
• First pitch: 9:38 p.m. ET
• TV: SportsNet LA, Bally Sports West

Dodgers vs Angels betting preview

Starting pitchers

Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 2.40 ERA): Since returning from injury on June 11, Kershaw has allowed multiple earned runs only twice in six starts. His last two starts were terrific, surrendering only one earned run across 14.2 innings. His strikeout rate (27.6%) and walk rate (4.8%) are both in line with his last few seasons, so we’re still getting the same old Kershaw during his age 34 season. His 2.39 xERA and 2.57 FIP are both excellent.

Patrick Sandoval (3-4, 2.95 ERA): It’ll be an all-left-handed affair in Los Angeles as Sandoval gets the call for the Halos. He’s been a steady option for the Angels, although his 4.22 xERA indicates regression is coming for his 2.95 ERA. His 4.8% barrel rate and 3.00 FIP are above league average. The biggest hole in his game is a high walk rate of 10.1%. 

Weather

Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.

Key injuries

Find our latest MLB injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Dodgers are 36-16 in their last 52 games vs. a left-handed starter. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Angels

Dodgers vs Angels picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Moneyline analysis

Both teams hail from the same city, but they’re headed in far different directions in the aptly-named Freeway Series. The Dodgers (58-30) are northbound to the top of the standings, riding a 9-1 streak to tie the Houston Astros for the second-best record in the MLB. The Angels (39-51) have been headed southbound toward the cellar of the AL standings for a while now and are just 2-8 in their last 10 games.

This is a matchup between two solid left-handed pitchers, but I give the edge to the Dodgers. Kershaw’s 2.39 xERA and 2.57 FIP are both superb, as is his 2.8% barrel rate. Sandoval’s numbers (4.22 xERA, 3.00 FIP, 4.8% barrel rate) simply don’t hold a candle to Kershaw’s.

The Dodgers’ lineup has been mashing. Since the calendar flipped to July, they rank second in the following categories: OPS, weighted OBA, and weighted RC+.The only team they rank behind is the New York Yankees, who have the best record in baseball.

The Angels’ numbers haven’t been so pretty lately. In the month of July, they rank dead last (30th) in the league in OPS, wOBA, and wRC+. 

The Dodgers also have the better numbers against left-handed pitching on the season. They rank 12th in both wOBA and wRC+, while the Angels rank 26th in wOBA and 24th in wRC+ against southpaws.

The Angels have not been able to be successful against the top teams in the league, going 3-13 in their last 16 games vs. a team with a winning percentage above .600. They’ve also struggled in series openers, going 10-25 in their last 35 Game 1s of a series.

I’m taking the Dodgers to handle business as the favorite.

Prediction: Dodgers moneyline (-179 at WynnBET)

Over/Under analysis

For as hot as the Dodgers have been at the plate, their season-long numbers are worse against left-handed pitching (12th in wOBA, 12th in wRC+) than they are against righties (first in wOBA, first in wRC+). It’s not that their numbers are bad against southpaws — it’s just that they aren’t the best in the entire league, which is normally the case. 

The Under is 7-0-2 in Dodgers' last nine road games when facing a left-handed starter. That’ll be the case here against Patrick Sandoval, whose 4.22 xERA is concerning, but his other peripherals (3.00 FIP, 4.8% barrel rate) are encouraging. Games in which Sandoval starts are 8-4-2 to the Under.

The Angels’ numbers at the plate have been dismal this season no matter how you slice it. In the month of June, they have a 31.3% strikeout rate against left-handed pitching, the highest mark in the league. The Under is 5-0-1 in the Angels’ last six games against a left-handed starter and is 7-2 in their last nine Game 1s of a series.

The Under is also trending in the Freeway Series, cashing in five of the last six meetings between these crosstown rivals.

All signs are pointing toward the Under. The total has dropped to 7.5 at most books, but there is still an 8 available at a few spots. I’m grabbing that number before it’s gone.

Prediction: Under 8 (-110 at Caesars)

Best bet

The Dodgers’ money line is juiced as always and therefore I feel more confident about playing the Under. I’m diving in a little further for today’s best bet, however.

Clayton Kershaw’s strikeout prop is listed at 6.5. The Angels have a 24.7% strikeout rate (fourth-highest) against lefties on the season, and that number jumps all the way up to 31.3% in July. Kershaw has a healthy 27.6% strikeout rate and has tossed at least seven strikeouts in three of his last five outings.

I’m taking Kershaw to go Over his strikeout prop in Game 1 of the Freeway Series.

Pick: Clayton Kershaw Over 6.5 strikeouts (-104 at FanDuel)

Pages related to this topic