Matt Fargo's **MLB TOP PLAY** American League GOW - 5/6/2008 8:05:00 PM

Los Angeles Angels (Adenhart) +120

**MLB TOP PLAY** American League GOW Sometimes you have to just swallow the pill and back a pitcher than you really don?t know much about or what you may expect. The bottom line here is that the Angels are by far the better team overall and getting them at this kind of price is unheard of. Sure they will be dogs in these games against the elite of baseball, but not against Kansas City. Los Angeles has won three straight games and is 15-7 in its last 22 games after starting out the year 6-6. Even better, the Angels are 11-5 on the road this season.

The Royals started the season 9-6 but ever since grabbing that first win against the Angels in Anaheim, they have gone just 5-11 over their last 16 games. They have actually been better on the road as they have dropped five of seven and eight of their last 11 at home. The offense has been the real problem as they are hitting just .237 at home and overall they have scored three runs or fewer in 11 of their last 17 games. Kansas City is last in the American League in run and it isn?t even close.

This could be just the offense that Nick Adenhart needs to face to turn things around. This is the starting pitcher in question that I talked about earlier and if there is spot to back him, this is it. In his first ever start, he allowed five runs on three hits and five walks in just two innings of work against Oakland. Those control issues look scary but nerves were a big issue the first time around and things will be different this time. Entering this year, he had issued about one walk every three innings in his professional career.

The royals go with Brian Bannister who was getting a lot of publicity and I?m not really sure why. Yes he did have a couple good starts to start the season but he has been amazingly inconsistent for the backing he is getting here. Two of his last three outings have been disasters and dating back to last season he has allowed five runs or more in five of his last 10 starts, posting a 6.02 ERA over that span. The Angels offense has been sputtering and this is the situation it needs to break out. Play Los Angeles Angels 2.5 Units

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