Logan O’Hoppe Set to Return as Angels Look to Avoid Sweep Against Yankees

The Los Angeles Angels will try to avoid a sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees on Wednesday night, and they’ll likely do it with catcher Logan O’Hoppe back in the starting lineup. O’Hoppe was held out of Tuesday’s game after taking a hit to the head on Monday from a follow-through swing by Yankees infielder Jorbit Vivas.

Although O’Hoppe cleared concussion protocol, the Angels opted for caution. He pleaded with manager Ron Washington to start Tuesday’s game, but only appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning, fouling out to end a 3-2 loss.

“He’s feeling good,” Washington said. “Of course, he came into the office to fight to get in there, but we’re just taking precautions. Any time somebody gets hit in the head, no one wants to take a chance.”

O’Hoppe’s bat has been critical for Los Angeles this season. His 14 home runs rank second among all MLB catchers, trailing only Seattle’s Cal Raleigh. Bettors tracking player props and home run leader odds can explore current markets and daily analysis through our MLB picks section.

Score A Homerun!

Premium MLB Handicapping Membership

Get Free Trial

Mike Trout Nearing Return

The Angels continue to navigate a tough stretch without star outfielder Mike Trout, who remains on the injured list with a bone bruise in his left knee. Trout has not played since May 1 and is still working to clear his final hurdle: running the bases at full speed.

Washington wouldn’t commit to Trout being activated for the upcoming series against Cleveland, stating, “I’ve got to see how things fare the next time on the base paths, and how he recovers.”

For updated previews and betting breakdowns as Trout nears his return, visit our MLB game previews page.

Pitching Matchup: Kikuchi vs. Schmidt

Wednesday’s game will feature Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (1-4, 3.17 ERA) making his 12th start of the season. He is coming off his first win and owns a 5-4 record with a 3.38 ERA in 15 career appearances against the Yankees.

Opposing him will be Yankees right-hander Clarke Schmidt (1-2, 4.58 ERA), who is still trying to find consistency this year. He allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings during a 3-2 loss to Colorado last Friday.

Both pitchers have been unpredictable for bettors, and expert handicappers continue to track their performance. For updated advice and recommended wagers, check out our expert MLB betting guide and our buy picks page.

Aaron Judge Continues Stellar Season

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge continues to deliver an elite offensive season, going 1-for-4 on Tuesday to bring his batting average to .395 through 54 games—exactly one-third of the regular season. Though hitting .400 remains improbable, Judge’s production in a modern pitching environment is earning high praise from the Yankees’ coaching staff.

“He’s controlling the strike zone, getting his walks, getting his non-home run hits, making the pitcher work,” Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus said. “It’s the best I’ve ever witnessed.”

With Judge pacing the Yankees and O’Hoppe returning to the lineup, Wednesday’s series finale offers intriguing betting angles. Stay on top of the most trusted insights from top cappers at our handicappers leaderboard.