Betting Impact of Angels Acquiring Giolito, Keeping Ohtani

• The Los Angeles Angels traded for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lope from the Chicago White Sox, indicating they are making a postseason push.
• Los Angeles told teams that they will not trade Shohei Ohtani before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
• The Angels are 7.0 games back in the division and 4.0 games back from a Wild Card spot.

LOS ANGELES – Hours after a report surfaced that the Los Angeles Angels will not trade Shohei Ohtani, the Angels acquired Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez from the Chicago White Sox. Buying at the deadline confirmed these reports and puts the Angels in a more confident betting position for a potential post season run.

Chicago received catcher Edgar Quero and left-hander Ky Bush in return, the Angels No. 2 and No. 3 prospects. Ky Bush potentially would have made an impact at the major league level if they called him up this season, but Lucas Giolito is already a proven starter and gives the Angels their best chance to win now.

The Los Angeles Angels are 7.0 games back from the American League West Division lead and 4.0 games out of a Wild Card spot.

American League West Winner

• Texas Rangers -140
• Houston Astros EVEN
• Seattle Mariners +2000
• Los Angeles Angels +3500
• Oakland Athletics +200000

Although odds at legal MLB betting sites favor the Texas Rangers or Houston Astros to win the AL West, the Angels +3500 odds are worth a shot. The Angels are trending in the right direction, winning seven of their last 10 games after a brutal 1-10 skid in early July.

If LA had won just half of the games they lost during that rough patch, they would be sitting one game back in the division and comfortably in an AL Wild Card spot.

The confirmation that Shohei Ohtani won’t be traded despite many rumors is massive news for legal sports betting on the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani leads the MLB in home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS while posting an 8-5 record on the mound with a 3.71 earned run average.

Adding Lucas Giolito’s 3.79 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 121 innings pitched to a starting rotation with Ohtani, Reid Detmers, and Patrick Sandoval gives them a far better chance at the 2023 AL West Division title.

Not to mention, Mike Trout’s injury has kept him sidelined the last three weeks. No official time table is available, but Jose Ramirez was able to return in four weeks after suffering the same injury in 2019.

News tags: American League West | Chicago White Sox | Ky Bush | LA Angels | Lucas Giolito | MLB | Reynaldo Lopez | Shohei Ohtani