Wednesday’s MLB American League betting picks – June 22, 2022

In Major League Baseball (MLB) this Wednesday, Angels ace Shohei Ohtani starts against Kansas City, Philadelphia’s Zach Wheeler travels to Texas to take on the Rangers in an interleague matchup, and the Yankees-Rays rivalry continues in Tampa Bay. Here are the best bets on games featuring American League teams scheduled for June 22, starting at 2:10pm ET.

Kansas City Royals (+175) @ Los Angeles Angels (-205)

The Angels are the day’s biggest favorite with the Royals visiting Los Angeles (well, Anaheim actually). Shohei Ohtani has been quite good for the Angels despite posting a 5-4 record. His 3.28 ERA and 1.09 WHIP are both indicative of the Angels’ inability to score runs this season. They seem to have turned that around since firing manager Joe Maddon, however. The Royals haven’t seen Ohtani, and Ohtani doesn’t really need that advantage.

Daniel Lynch is expected to start for Kansas City. He’s 3-6 with a 5.19 ERA and 1.53 WHIP this season. He’ll have to be much better than his season averages if Kansas City’s going to win. The Royals have the fifth-worst team OPS in MLB and have scored the fourth-fewest runs.

Take Los Angeles across the board: in the first five innings, on the moneyline, and to win by at least two runs.

Philadelphia Phillies (-155) @ Texas Rangers (+135)

Zach Wheeler has been great for Philadelphia, posting a 2.69 ERA and 1.04 WHIP en route to a 6-3 record. He’s also struck out 78 batters in 70.1 innings pitched, so he’s missing plenty of bats like he did last season (247 strikeouts in 213.1 innings pitched). He’s obviously figured it out, and the thin, hot air in Texas shouldn’t be a problem for him. He’s only allowed three homers all season, although Texas is eighth overall in home runs as a team. Philadelphia is fourth, however, so the thin air should be to the Phillies advantage.

Jon Gray will make his 12th start of the year for Texas. He’s gone 2-32 with a 4.27 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. He actually faced Philadelphia on May 3, allowing five hits in 14 at-bats and giving up three runs in three innings. Rhys Hoskins had Philly’s only extra-base hit with a two-run double.

Expect the Phillies to lead from start to finish. Take them in the first five innings and on the moneyline. Expect their relievers to play it into a close game late. They’ve posted the third-worst WHIP in MLB this season. Parlaying the Phillies and Angels on the moneyline pays +144 with Bovada.

New York Yankees (-140) @ Tampa Bay Rays (+120)

The Yankees are simply overwhelming. Their pitching staff is exceptional, and Jordan Montgomery is no exception despite being just 3-1 in 13 starts. His 0.95 WHIP is one of the best in MLB. Tampa hasn’t seen him this season, but the Rays posted a .766 OPS against him last season, going 25-for-115 with eight home runs and four doubles. That Jordan Montgomery posted a 1.28 WHIP and 3.83 ERA, however; this Jordan Montgomery is only allowing a .216 batting average.

Young Shane Baz is scheduled to start for Tampa, who will be making his third start of the season and second ever against the Yankees. The lone hit he allowed in his first was a home run to Anthony Rizzo, but he only threw 2.2 innings. Baz bounced back nicely from a disastrous outing against Minnesota on June 11, in which he allowed five runs in 2.1 innings pitched. He went six scoreless against Baltimore in his following start, but that was Baltimore, and this is New York.

The Yankees have the most home runs (111), the highest OPS (.770), and the second-most runs scored (244) in MLB. Take them in the first five innings, on the moneyline, and to win by two or more. Parlaying New York with Los Angeles and Philadelphia pays +319.

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