Los Angeles Angels at Miami Marlins

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
LAA	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	4	6	0
MIA	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	3	12	1

George Klassen (0-1, 11.57 ERA) gets another shot at the show after his first taste went sideways back in April — 2.0 innings, 4 earned runs, 5 walks against the Reds. Since then he's been the best arm in the Angels system, earning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month for July with Triple-A Salt Lake. Miami counters with Tyler Phillips (3-5, 3.53 ERA), who's quietly been the Marlins' steadiest arm — he beat the Mets his last time out, working 5.0 innings with 2 earned runs and zero walks. First pitch is 7:10 PM ET at loanDepot park.

Show fees

FINAL

Spread

ML

Total

Angels(44-71)

WLLWL

4

+1.5-138+144o9.5+141

Marlins(58-58)

LLLWW

3

-1.5+141-144u9.5-138

Best BetMarlins -171

Pregame

Miami's the far better team on paper and Phillips has been reliable his last time out, which is why the Marlins are priced as heavy favorites here. The Angels have nothing to play for and are trotting out a starter who got shelled in his only other big-league look, so the talent gap still wins out even with Miami stumbling.

The version of Klassen the Angels are calling up isn't the one who walked five Reds in April. He tightened up his control in the minors and turned into the system's most electric prospect, which makes this look less like a mop-up start and more like an audition for a rotation spot down the stretch. Phillips, meanwhile, has settled into a groove for a Marlins team that badly needs him to hold the line while the lineup sorts itself out.

George Klassen

(2-1)·3.74 ERA

Apr 11 @ Reds

L

2.0IP

4ER

2K

5BB

72P

08/07 Lineup

Tyler Phillips

(3-6)·3.67 ERA

Aug 1 @ Mets

W

5.0IP

2ER

3K

0BB

65P

08/07 Lineup

Miami still has the better roster on paper and the better record, and the sportsbooks know it — the Marlins are the clear favorites here. But favorites and form aren't the same thing right now, and Miami's offense has looked lost the last several days.

Los Angeles Angels

(44-71)

Aug 6W@ Orioles4-1

Aug 5L@ Orioles2-5

Aug 4L@ Orioles1-3

Aug 2Wvs Brewers3-0

Aug 2Lvs Brewers1-3

Miami Marlins

(58-58)

Aug 6L@ Braves3-11

Aug 5L@ Braves1-4

Aug 4L@ Braves2-4

Aug 2W@ Mets2-0

Aug 1W@ Mets6-2

The Marlins have lost 3 straight, getting outscored 19-6 in that stretch, and it's not hard to see why — the bats have gone cold at the worst possible time for a team clinging to wild-card relevance. The Angels, on the other hand, just won their last game, a 4-1 finish against Baltimore, and they took 1 of 3 in that series after splitting a two-game set with Milwaukee. It's not a hot streak so much as proof this Angels team can still scrap out a win when a pitcher gives them a chance.

Los Angeles Angels

(7)

• 10-Day-ILSebastian Rivero (C) — Rivero (hand) began a rehab assignment Saturday and has gone 3-for-7 with a home run in his first two rehab contests.07/29
• 15-Day-ILSam Bachman (RP) — The Angels placed Bachman on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to right forearm radial nerve inflammation.08/05
• 60-Day-ILYusei Kikuchi (SP) — Kikuchi (shoulder) yielded six earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out four batters across 1.2 innings Tuesday in a rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake.08/05
• 60-Day-ILYoan Moncada (3B) — Moncada (knee) has been rehabbing at his home and hasn't started baseball activities, MLB.com reports.07/22
• 60-Day-ILJack Kochanowicz (SP) — Kochanowicz's Tommy John surgery on his right elbow was deemed "successful," per MLB.com.06/27
• 60-Day-ILRobert Stephenson (RP) — The Angels announced that Stephenson underwent ligament and flexor repair surgery on his right elbow Wednesday and is likely to miss the remainder of the season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.05/08
• 60-Day-ILAnthony Rendon (3B) — The Angels placed Rendon (hip) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08

Miami Marlins

(7)

• 15-Day-ILMax Meyer (SP) — Meyer (neck) will continue treatment and won't throw for the next two weeks, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.07/24
• 15-Day-ILAnthony Bender (RP) — Bender (shin) was cleared to begin a throwing program Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.07/18
• 15-Day-ILWilliam Kempner (RP) — The Marlins placed Kempner on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right elbow sprain.07/12
• 60-Day-ILAndrew Nardi (RP) — Nardi (ribs) said Wednesday that he's about 2-to-3 weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.07/29
• 60-Day-ILRonny Henriquez (RP) — Henriquez (elbow) began playing catch from 60 feet out Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.07/18
• 60-Day-ILRobby Snelling (SP) — Snelling underwent internal brace surgery Friday to repair a torn UCL in his left elbow.05/22
• 60-Day-ILAdam Mazur (SP) — The Marlins placed Mazur (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08

Neither bullpen is at full strength. The Angels are without Sam Bachman, who landed on the 15-day IL with forearm inflammation, thinning out an already stretched relief corps behind a rookie starter. Miami's pen has its own absences with Andrew Nardi, Ronny Henriquez and Anthony Bender all out, which matters if Phillips can't work deep and Klassen gets an early hook. Two shaky bullpens plus a Marlins offense in a funk is exactly the kind of setup that can turn a laugher into a slugfest — or the other way around.