3 Best Bets for Wednesday's Freeway Series Matchup: Dodgers at Angels (6/21/23)

The annual interleague matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers (40-33) and Los Angeles Angels (41-34) -- colloquially known as the "Freeway Series" -- is a staple of any Southern California summer.

With their beloved stadiums connected by a bumpy 30-mile stretch of "The 5" (CA Interstate-5), bragging rights are up for grabs as both teams are locked into their respective divisional races. Currently, the Dodgers and Angels have nearly identical records. On this first day of summer, things are certainly heating up out West.

Whether one prefers the shores at Santa Monica or Newport Beach is not the only dispute residents of Los Angeles and Orange County engage in. The Dodgers have long been seen as older brother in the market compared to the Angels, with the Boys in Blue showcasing greater historic success. However, the Halos may actually be the more talented side in 2023.

After the Dodgers blanked the Angels, 2-0, on Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani (6-2) will toe the rubber Wednesday night in Anaheim. As we approach afternoon in the Pacific time zone, the Dodgers have still not named a starting pitcher.

Via the MLB odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, here are three wagers to look out for in Wednesday's Angels-Dodgers clash.

Angels Moneyline (-146)

Even before I make the "Ohtani on the mound" argument, the Angels have truly been the hottest team in SoCal as of late.

Over the past 10 games, the Halos have winning record (6-4) whereas the Dodgers and San Diego Padres do not. The team from Anaheim just won three out of four against the first-place Texas Rangers before defeating Kansas City Royals in a series.

The "Hollywood Swingers" -- aka the Dodgers -- are currently enduring one of their worst stretches of the season so far. The National League team from Los Angeles has suffered five losses in their past eight contests, surrendering 6.13 runs per game over that span. The recent three-game sweep at the hands of the archrival San Francisco Giants did not help the Dodgers in any capacity.

Of course, as mentioned, Ohtani is the starting pitcher for the AL side of the Freeway Series tonight. With the exception of Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez and David Peralta, the majority of the Dodgers' lineup has never faced Ohtani. Also, the Halos are 10-4 in the 14 games started by Shohei.

On top of that, LAA has a red-hot Brandon Drury currently riding a six-game hitting streak. Oh, and they have Mike Trout, too --enough said?

That is enough for me to take the Angels at a reasonable moneyline price of -146.

Under 9.0 runs (-122)

Per numberFire's game projections, the Dodgers have a predicted run total of 4.21 for Wednesday evening while the Angels show a 4.45 clip. So, numberFire likes the under, and I fall in line.

In 2023, Ohtani has had only one home game where he allowed more than three runs. At Angel Stadium, he boasts a 25.7% strikeout rate, compared to 18.4% on the road. Given the Dodgers' recent woes at the plate, I believe they will struggle offensively against Ohtani in Anaheim.

Nine combined runs feel ambitious in my eyes.

Ohtani to Hit a Home Run (+255)

Let's have some fun with a home-run prop.

Aside from Ohtani's assignment on the bump, he has arguably been the best batter in Major League Baseball over the past two weeks. He currently leads MLB in home runs with 24, but he also has not gone consecutive games without a long ball since June 7th and June 8th. Ohtani did not homer against the Dodgers on Tuesday, so if his power pattern continues, we can cash in on him hitting a ball over the outfield fence tonight with a favorable +255 payout.

Again, there is still no confirmation (as of the time this was published) on who will be the Dodgers' starting pitcher for Wednesday. Regardless, Ohtani has smacked eight home runs in 11 games since that aforementioned June 8 date. For me, that is consistent enough to sprinkle some on this plus-money prop.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author’s advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.