It’s been a dominant West Coast road trip for the Yankees, winners in four of their last five games. The same can’t be said for the Angels, losers in four of their previous five outings. Tonight, New York will attempt to secure a series sweep with starter Clarke Schmidt on the mound. However, he’ll be opposed by Los Angeles’ ace, Yusei Kikuchi.
The Yankees enter tonight as favorites (-155) over the Angels, with the over/under set at 8.5 runs. Let’s break down which side has the edge on DraftKings Sportsbook going into Wednesday’s contest.
Yankees at Angels prediction, preview
At this early point of the season, it’s a thin line between playoff and World Series contender. The Yankees can consider themselves as far closer to the latter than the former. After reaching the Fall Classic in 2024, New York has come out of the gates with a 34-20 record. That’s due in large part to the American League’s highest-scoring offense, led by Aaron Judge. The two-time MVP is slashing an absurd .395/.488/.746 at the plate to go with a league-leading 18 home runs.
That’s not to say Judge is New York’s only dangerous hitter. The Pinstripes boast a deep lineup, carried in part by Paul Goldschmidt (154 wRC+) and Cody Bellinger (122 wRC+). Keeping that in mind, tonight’s matchup could be a challenge for Yusei Kikuchi. The veteran, signed this offseason, has been a stabilizing force in Los Angeles’ rotation. Through 59.2 innings pitched, the 33-year-old has recorded a 3.17 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 54 strikeouts. It’s worth noting that the Japanese hurler has gotten lucky so far (4.34 FIP).
The Angels will attempt to support Kikuchi with the league’s 18th-highest scoring offense. However, that ranking doesn’t tell the full story. Since May 14th, Los Angeles has tallied the fourth-most runs in baseball (67). Tonight, the Halos will face Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt. It’s been an up-and-down start for the sixth-year pro, who missed several weeks due to a shoulder injury. Over 37.1 innings of work, Schmidt owns a 4.58 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 38 strikeouts. However, he only went 4.2 frames last week vs. the Rockies, allowing three earned runs.
Yankees at Angels pick, best bet
Los Angeles possesses several underrated hitters, but the team has had its struggles offensively. This season, the Angels have the ninth-lowest batting average (.229) and the seventh-lowest on-base percentage (.294) against right-handed pitching. In comparison, the Yankees have posted the league’s highest slugging percentage against southpaws (.502). Still, Kikuchi has had success in this matchup. Over five career starts vs. New York, the lefty has surrendered just seven earned runs (2.30 ERA). In addition, Judge has recorded only five hits during 25 career at-bats vs. the veteran.
At this point, it’s almost impossible to fade the Yankees against a sub-.500 opponent. However, Kikuchi has been a difficult assignment for the Bombers in years past. The Angels have scored a total of just five runs during their last four contests. It’s better for New York, who have tallied 13 over their previous three games. Still, it’s clear that neither offense is in a groove at the moment. Expect those hitting struggles to continue on Wednesday.
Best Bet: Yankees-Angels under 8.5 runs (+102)
Two talented starters do just enough to keep these offenses in check tonight.
