Angels vs. Rays: Los Angeles Suffering from a Power Outage Against Lefties

The Los Angeles Angels (6-10) and Tampa Bay Rays (9-7) will open up a three-game American League series on Tuesday night at Tropicana Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Rays as -140 home favorites, while the total stands at 8 across the board.

Los Angeles comes in with a 2-4 record against left-handed starters in the early going, as the team has managed to hit just one home run in 168 at-bats versus southpaws on the year. Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is suffering from a career-worst 16-game streak to open any season without a ball leaving the yard.

Ervin Santana (0-3, 6.75 ERA) has been saddled with defeat in each of his first three starts, with the Angels' sputtering offense scoring just three runs in that span. He has also managed to surrender two home runs in each of his efforts thus far.

The right-hander enters with an even 5-5 mark and 5.23 ERA in 12 career starts versus the Rays, which includes a 2-4 mark and 6.60 ERA in eight outings at Tropicana Field. He will need to pitch carefully to Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria, who has two home runs in 10 at-bats against him.

Sports bettors will find that the Angels are 1-5 in Santana's last six road starts in this series, while the "over" is 4-1 in the last five games in that situation.

Tampa Bay enjoyed an off day after winning two of three games against the Minnesota Twins to begin this six-game homestand. The Rays are 5-1 at home in the early going, but have registered a dismal 13-18 record following a day off since the 2010 season.

David Price (2-1, 4.20 ERA) has managed to throw just 15 combined innings in his first three starts, as he enters off a 12-2 road win over the Toronto Blue Jays last time out. He allowed two runs and eight hits over 5.2 frames in that effort.

The left-hander has averaged 19.7 pitchers per inning, which is the highest average among AL hurlers, but has received the seventh-highest run-support average in the league to overcome those troubles.

Price will be facing the Angels for the seventh time in his career, coming in with a 2-2 record and 4.37 ERA, with the club winning four of six in that span. He hasn't fared too well against AL West opponents, posting a losing 3-6 mark and 4.86 ERA in 16 lifetime outings.

The Rays are 3-7 in Price's last 10 starts as a home favorite, while the "under" is 29-10-2 in the last 41 games in that situation.