Angels vs Athletics Picks and Betting Tips – August 15th, 2025

Los Angeles Angels

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Athletics

On August 15, 2025, the Oakland Athletics will host the Los Angeles Angels at Sutter Health Park in a matchup that holds significance for both teams, albeit for different reasons. The Athletics, with a record of 54-69, are struggling this season, while the Angels sit at 59-62, having an average year. This game marks the first in their series, and both teams are looking to gain an edge.

The Angels’ starting pitcher, Yusei Kikuchi, comes into this game with a solid 3.37 ERA, showcasing his effectiveness on the mound. However, projections suggest he may have been a bit lucky this year, as his xFIP is 0.68 points higher than his ERA. In contrast, Jack Perkins of the Athletics, ranked as the 46th best starting pitcher in MLB according to advanced stats, has had a mixed season with a 4.08 ERA. While his ERA is above average, his xERA of 2.60 indicates he could have better outcomes going forward, suggesting he may be due for a turnaround.

Offensively, the Athletics boast the 7th best offense in MLB, significantly outpacing the Angels, who rank 16th. Oakland’s lineup has been particularly effective at hitting home runs, ranking 7th in that category, which could be crucial against Perkins’ high flyball rate. The Angels, on the other hand, have been powerful themselves, ranking 3rd in MLB for home runs, but they struggle with a low batting average, placing 25th.

As the Athletics look to leverage their strong offense against a potentially vulnerable Angels pitching staff, they are slight favorites with a moneyline of -110, indicating a close contest. With a high Game Total of 10.0 runs, bettors should expect an offensive showcase, particularly from the Athletics, who have an implied team total of 5.00 runs. The matchup promises to be an intriguing battle as both teams aim to secure a much-needed victory.

Los Angeles Angels Insights

• Yusei Kikuchi – Over/Under 6.5 Strikeouts (+120/-150)
  Yusei Kikuchi’s fastball velocity has decreased 1.3 mph this season (94.3 mph) below where it was last year (95.6 mph).
  Explain: Velocity is a key component to fastball success in generating strikeouts and preventing runs, so a pitcher whose velocity decreases will likely see worse results.
• Nolan Schanuel – Over/Under 1.5 Total Bases (+125/-160)
  Nolan Schanuel has taken a step back with his Barrel% in recent games; his 5% seasonal rate has dropped off to 0% in the last 14 days.
  Explain: Barrel% measures how often a player hits the ball at the optimal exit velocity and launch angle and is a terrific measure of underlying power.
• Per the leading projection system (THE BAT X), the offense with the most strikeout-prone lineup in today’s games is the Los Angeles Angels with a 26.5% underlying K%.
  Explain: THE BAT X analyzes each player in today’s specific lineup to figure out which teams have the most inherent strikeout potential for the opposing pitcher.

Athletics Insights

• Jack Perkins – Over/Under 5.5 Strikeouts (+100/-130)
  The leading projection system (THE BAT X) projects that Jackson Perkins will post an average of 5.9 strikeouts in today’s outing.
  Explain: THE BAT X is a highly sophisticated projection system that accounts for a multitude of factors like ballpark, weather, umpire, and more.
• JJ Bleday – Over/Under 0.5 Total Bases (-175/+135)
  JJ Bleday has been hot of late, raising his seasonal exit velocity of 88.2-mph to 93.6-mph in the past 14 days.
  Explain: Hitting the ball hard increases the chances of either a home run or the ball landing in fair territory for a hit before a fielder can get to it.
• Athletics – 2H Moneyline
  The Athletics bullpen ranks as the worst in baseball, per the leading projection system (THE BAT).
  Explain: Most bettors only consider the starting pitcher, but a weak bullpen sneakily creates an easier matchup for the opposing offense and boosts a game’s runs.

Betting Trends

• Athletics – Run Line +1.5 (-165)
  The Athletics have hit the Run Line in 24 of their last 39 games (+7.45 Units / 14% ROI)
• Los Angeles Angels – Over/Under 2.5 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total (+105/-135)
  The Los Angeles Angels have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Over in 43 of their last 63 games (+22.45 Units / 30% ROI)
• Taylor Ward – Over/Under 0.5 Home Runs (+370/-570)
  Taylor Ward has hit the Home Runs Over in 3 of his last 5 games (+11.40 Units / 228% ROI)