Diamondbacks vs Angels predictions
When you look at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ lineup heading into this matchup with the Angels, it’s hard not to get excited about what their hitters could do at the plate. Corbin Carroll, who’s been showing off his speed and contact ability all season, seems primed for another solid night—don’t be surprised if he picks up a couple of hits and finds his way home once or twice. Ketel Marte’s been reliable as ever, and he looks set to get on base with his patient approach while driving in a run or two. Josh Naylor is another name to watch; with his knack for clutch hitting, there’s a real shot he’ll add an extra-base hit and a handful of RBIs. And let’s not sleep on Merrill Kelly, who’s taking the mound and should be capable of keeping the Angels’ bats in check thanks to his steady pitch mix and ability to rack up strikeouts when it counts.
Shifting the spotlight over to the Los Angeles Angels, the big bats can make some noise of their own, especially at home in Angel Stadium. Taylor Ward has been the power source for LA, and he’s always a threat to go yard—he could easily push another ball over the fence and tally a couple of RBIs. Nolan Schanuel brings a consistent bat to the lineup and has a real chance to chip in a multi-hit game as he’s been stringing together some solid performances at the plate. And of course, when Mike Trout is in the mix, anything can happen; he’s looked sharp coming back and could very well cross the plate and drive in a run, even if it’s not his most explosive outing. On the pitching side, Jose Soriano will try to steady the ship for LA, though he’ll need to keep his walks down against this patient Diamondbacks squad.
So, who comes out on top? Both teams have plenty to play for, with the Diamondbacks looking to end that tough road skid and the Angels hoping to keep their slight series edge. It feels like Arizona’s ability to string together tough at-bats and work counts could tip the game in their favor, especially with Kelly on the bump giving them a solid foundation. Although the Angels’ sluggers might make things interesting, I think the D-backs finally snap their road woes and pick up a much-needed win to stay in the thick of the NL Wild Card race. What do you think—are the Snakes ready to bite back?
