Vegas Play of the Day: Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Angels

By Taylor Bern

Thursday, July 24, 2014 | 10:30 a.m.

Here’s the latest installment of the Play of the Day, which uses odds from the South Point. Our three sports writers started with a $10,000 bankroll — fictional, of course.

Detroit Tigers plus-105 against Los Angeles Angels: $300 to win $315

Las Vegas hasn’t reached the point where there are lines on the AAU basketball games I’m attending this week, so I guess it’s back to baseball. And while I’d be perfectly fine taking the San Diego Padres under for what feels like the 10th time in this competition, that’s not really fun.

So go ahead and keep betting on the Padres’ ineptitude, but for the Play of the Day, I’m looking elsewhere for value. And I think I found it in Los Angeles.

The Angels and Tigers are both in line for playoff spots but need to keep working to solidify those positions. Especially the Angels, who could still catch the Oakland Athletics for first place.

Given that motivation, the Angels’ overall talent and home-field advantage it makes sense that they’d be favored. However, when I can get plus money on a great pitcher, I always lean that way. Max Scherzer isn’t the same dominating force he was last season, but he’s rounding into form with two earned runs or less in six of his last seven starts.

Of course, in the one exception, he allowed 10 runs, so the blowup potential is certainly there, especially against the Angels’ offense. Still, I’m fine rolling with a talented pitcher on a bit of a roll.

Standings: Bern (39-25-1, $14,619), Keefer (32-36, $9,146), Brewer (26-37-3, $3,055)

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.