East Coast vs. West Coast – Yankees at Angels

Saturday, July 11

BetOnline MLB betting matchup:

Southpaw Andy Pettitte (8-4, 4.53 ERA) will get the start for the Yankees on Saturday, while the Angels counter with right-hander Jered Weaver (9-3, 3.15 ERA).

Here are some of the MLB Baseball betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* NY has won 13 of its last 15 games
* NY has played five of its last six games OVER the total
* NY has won its last eight road games
* LA has won 10 of its last 15 games
* LA has played four of its last five games OVER the total
* LA has won six of its last nine home games
* LA has played four of its last five home games OVER the total

In the HEAD-TO-HEAD sports betting trends:

* LA has won six of the last nine meetings
* Four of the last six meetings have gone OVER the total
* LA has won five of the last six meetings as the home team
* LA has won 14 of the last 19 meetings as the home team

They wouldn’t be the Yankees without a little controversy, even during a hot streak. On Monday against Toronto, Derek Jeter was called out at third base on a stolen base attempt, on what was clearly a blown call by the umpire, Marty Foster. Jeter claims that when he argued with Foster for an explanation, he was told that because the throw beat him to the bag, no tag was necessary. That really set Jeter off, and if not for the intervention of Joe Girardi, things would have truly gotten ugly.

It was in that particular game that Andy Pettitte’s problems at Yankee Stadium continued, as he gave up six runs in six innings against Toronto in the 7-6 Yankee loss. Pettitte has been outstanding on the road, however. He’s had seven starts, with a 4-1 record and a 2.79 ERA. Most of his standout efforts this season has come in a visiting role. The Yankees went into their Friday contest in Anaheim with eight consecutive road wins.

Jered Weaver pitched relatively well last time out, as he was responding to his All-Star snub. Weaver gave up three runs in seven innings against Texas as the Angles won 9-4, and that was redemption after being bombed out by the Rangers in his previous start. His earned run average has taken a hit of late, one must admit; in his last four outings, he has a 7.22 ERA.

You might be well advised to check on the status of Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter, who have both undergone MRI’s lately. The Angels have had some success against left-handed pitchers, compiling a 14-8 record and hitting .267. They also led the AL in batting average going into the weekend, with a .281 mark as a team, although the Yankees had hit 126 homers, which was second to the Rangers.

I think it’s hard not to like Pettitte in this matchup. There seems to be a rather reliable pattern at work, and Pettitte is simply where he feels more comfortable, while Weaver will have to show us that he has regained the kind of form that saw him go five starts at one point without giving up more than two runs in any outing. It’ll be the Yankees in the BetOnline American League baseball betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: N.Y. YANKEES ***
(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)