The Los Angeles Angels made waves in the off-season signing high-profile free agents Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson.
Only one of them has played like an All-Star so far.
Wilson will go for his third win in as many starts on Thursday, in hopes of pulling the Angels out of a slump. The lefty makes his home debut against the Oakland Athletics. Wilson has accounted for half of the team’s wins so far, including a dazzling performance against the New York Yankees over the weekend. He only allowed one run for the second-straight start, going six innings in a 7-1 win.
“There’s certain things about each (of the first two starts) that I’m not satisfied with,” he said on the team website. “But ultimately I think I’m just feeling out what I have to do and where I can try to get a little bit more efficient and make less mistakes. That’s really what it’s all about as a pitcher.”
The Angels could really use another gem. They’ve lost two in a row, and eight of their first 12 to start the year.
Still, Bovada is backing the Angels by 1 1/2 runs, with a -210 moneyline.
History is on Wilson’s side against Oakland, too. He’s won three in a row against the division rival with a 2.33 ERA over his past four.
But that was before the A’s lineup featured Yoenis Cespedes. The Cuban defector has been the team’s lone power source, hitting a three-run bomb in the first inning last night. It was his first home run since April 7, but seems to be breaking out of a minor slump. Oakland now has 11 runs in its last two games, and Cespedes has four homers and 12 RBI to start the year.
Cespedes is a huge underdog to hit another tonight, according to Bovada’s MLB Player Props page. Bovada will payout +600 if he goes yard.
Meanwhile, Pujols hasn’t been nearly as proficient at the plate. His 12-game homerless streak to start the year is a career worst, and Bovada set a +325 payout if he homers tonight.
“Our offense has been a little bit spotty, and we need to get simple at the plate,” manager Mike Scioscia told the Associated Press. “Some guys are starting to get into their game – but as a unit, we’re not finding that offensive chemistry.”