Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Athletics: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/1/2023

Time: 4:07 p.m. ET

Venue: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, CA

Where to watch: BSW, NBCSCA

DraftKings: Check back later for odds

BetMGM: Check back later for odds

Caesars: Check back later for odds

Angels: 0-1

Athletics: 1-0

The Los Angeles Angels and the Oakland Athletics are set to face off in their second game of the 2023 season on April 1st. Both teams are hoping to start the season off strong and set the tone for the rest of the year.

The first game? It already went all bad for the Angels, losing 2-1 to the Athletics on Thursday despite a stellar performance from Shohei Ohtani. The former MVP went six innings and struck out 10 in his first start of the year. He did not give up any runs. The Angels giving up two tells you how awful this bullpen is and why this team is about to lose Ohtani for nothing.

“We’re going to score more runs, I’m not worried about that,” manager Phil Nevin said. “It’s Opening Day. Things get weird. But Shohei was really impressive tonight. He got to a number [93 pitches] we were comfortable with. I thought they all threw the ball fine but Loupy, the first hitter kinda blocked one to right and the pitch he wanted back was the 0-2 pitch that [Tony] Kemp hit.”

The A's got the right production from Esteury Ruiz, the A's No. 5 overall prospect. he went 2-for-3 from the plate in helping lead the A's to victory. 

“Man, that was great,” said A's starter Kyle Muller, who tossed five innings of one-run ball in what was his first career Opening Day nod. “I thought I had punched [Trout] out on the pitch before that. He hit it pretty hard and I thought that was in the gap. [Ruiz] is great out there.”

One player to watch for the Angels is superstar outfielder Mike Trout. Trout is one of the best players in the league, and his impact on the field cannot be overstated. He had a solid 2022 season, despite missing some time due to injury, and will be looking to start the 2023 season off strong. If Trout can get going early in this game, he could give the Angels the boost they need to come out on top.

Another player to watch for the Angels is  Ohtani. Ohtani is a unique player who can both pitch and hit at an elite level. He had a solid 2022 season both on the mound and at the plate, and will be looking to build upon that success in the upcoming season. If Ohtani can have a big game in this matchup, he could be a key factor in the Angels' success.

When it comes to pitching, both teams have some talented arms that could make a big impact in this game. The Angels have a solid starting rotation led by Dylan Bundy and Andrew Heaney, both of whom had solid seasons in 2022. The Athletics, meanwhile, have a strong bullpen led by closer Lou Trivino, who had an impressive 2022 season.

Overall, this game promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented teams looking to make a statement early in the season. Both teams have some key players who could make a big impact on the outcome of the game, and it will be interesting to see how the two teams match up against each other.

As always, there are sure to be surprises and unexpected twists and turns in the game, and it will be up to both teams to stay focused and make the most of their opportunities on the field. Whether you're an Angels fan or an Athletics fan, this is a game you won't want to miss.

Prediction

Ohtani might deliver at the plate this time around if given the chance. It's incredible that this team might be the biggest joke in the league. Angels 7, A's 4

Check back later for trends.

Projected lineup

Angels:
Taylor Ward (R) LF
Mike Trout (R) CF
Shohei Ohtani (L) P
Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
Hunter Renfroe (R) RF
Luis Rengifo (S) 2B
Brandon Drury (R) 1B
Gio Urshela (R) SS
Logan O'Hoppe (R) C

Athletics:
Tony Kemp (L) 2B
Conner Capel (L) DH
Aledmys Diaz (R) SS
Seth Brown (L) LF
Jesus Aguilar (R) 1B
Ramon Laureano (R) RF
Jace Peterson (L) 3B
Shea Langeliers (R) C
Esteury Ruiz (R) CF