The Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels are preparing to face off in a three-game series at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The first game is scheduled for Monday at 9:38 p.m. ET.
Series History and Current Form
In their 2025 season series, the Angels took the lead, winning 2-1. The Braves arrive in Anaheim following a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where they split the series. Atlanta started strong, outscoring Arizona 19-2 in the first two games, but then lost the next two.
The Angels are continuing their homestand after securing an 8-7, 11-inning victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. They were +138 underdogs in that game, with the Over (9) cashing.
Key performances in the game against the Mariners included 2B Adam Frazier, who went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. DH Jorge Soler added 2 RBIs, and 1B Nolan Schanuel delivered the walk-off sacrifice fly in the 11th.
Pitching Matchup: Sale vs. Soriano
The pitching matchup for the opening game features LHP Chris Sale for the Braves and RHP Jose Soriano for the Angels.
Sale will be making his third start of 2026. Last season, he had a 7-5 record with a 2.58 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP in 21 appearances, including 20 starts, over 125 2/3 innings pitched. He also recorded 32 walks and 165 strikeouts.
Soriano is also making his third start of the season. He posted a 10-11 record with a 4.26 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP in 31 starts over 169 innings last season. His stats also include a 4.2 BB/9 and an 8.1 K/9.
Keys to the Game
- The Braves’ power hitting, with 13 home runs, ranks third in MLB.
- Atlanta’s pitching has allowed the second-fewest home runs in the majors, with just 3.
- Sale has historically dominated against the Angels, boasting an 8-0 record and a 1.24 ERA in previous matchups.
The Braves’ power and Sale’s strong pitching record give them an edge in the opening game.
Betting Odds and Predictions
The Braves are favoured to win the opening game. There is a belief that Atlanta is in a strong position to win comfortably and cover the run line. A bet can be placed via BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Under has been a consistent trend in Braves and Angels games recently. Sale has allowed just 1 earned run over 12 innings, while Soriano hasn’t allowed a run in 12 innings. The Angels are hitting just .204, and Atlanta has scored only 8 runs over its last 3 games, pointing towards a potentially low-scoring game.
With strong pitching performances expected from both Sale and Soriano, combined with the Angels’ batting struggles and Atlanta’s recent scoring dip, the series opener could be a tight, low-scoring affair.