MLB Play of the Day for Monday, May 17: Cleveland Indians-Los Angeles Angels

The Indians are in Los Angeles to take on the Angels on Monday night. After dropping three straight against the Mariners over the weekend, can the Tribe get back on track? 

On the other side, how will the Halos respond after Shohei Ohtani’s home run to take the lead with two outs in the bottom of the 9th against the Red Sox?

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Cleveland Indians (+115, 9) - Los Angeles Angels - 9:38 PM EST

There are some underlying factors that are driving the BetQL Model’s ⭐⭐⭐⭐ play on the Indians as small underdogs. 

First, Cleveland will be making a short trip from Seattle to LA, while the Angles are traveling cross country with no day off. There could be some lingering effects from a long flight for Joe Maddon’s club, but also a suspect set of pitchers available tonight. 

Patrick Sandoval will be making his first start of the season. Sandoval is typically used as a long reliever with his longest appearance in 2021 being three-and-a-third innings. If the Angels go with the opener strategy, they are going to be susceptible to getting blown up considering they have one of the worst bullpens in baseball. That unit has the fourth highest ERA this season.

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Meanwhile, the Indians offense sputtered against the Mariners, failing to score more than four runs in Seattle over the weekend. However, this is an offense that is due to turn it around.

Cleveland is 10th in the league in hard hit rate, per FanGraphs, but is last in batting average in balls on play. So, the team is crushing the ball, but unable to turn that contact into hits at an unsustainable rate. Against a suspect set of arms, and a team that may be undervalued after a poor run of games in Seattle, the Indians may be due for an offensive explosion in LA.

It’s tough to justify Sandoval and the Angels pen being favored, especially against a 21-17 Cleveland squad, making the Indians a strong play on Monday night. 

Pick: Indians +115