Baseball Betting Preview: LA Angels vs. New York Yankees

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Baseball Betting Preview: LA Angels vs. New York Yankees

The New York Yankees are slowly falling behind the Boston Red Sox in the standings and need a win against the Angels to keep pace.

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Welcome to the Major Leagues, young man. Oh, and here's the ball against the Yankees in New York for your debut. Get after it.

That's the size of things as Angels right-hander Garrett Richards prepares for the huge jump from Double-A to a Major League pennant race in one of the game's most high-intensity venues on Wednesday night.

But while it might be a colossal challenge for Richards -- called up from Arkansas to take the place of recently demoted righty Joel Pineiro in the Angels' starting rotation and taking this turn for suspended ace Jered Weaver -- it'll also be a challenge for the Yankees hitters, who have never seen the pitcher.

Richards, who will be opposed by righty Ivan Nova, was 12-2 with a 3.06 ERA with the Travelers, striking out 100 in 141 innings. He walked 40 and has, at times, struggled with his command, but the Angels love his arm and love his future.

"He's thrown the ball very well," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "I figured it'd be a lot less disruptive than trying to get some guys out of our bullpen to piece together a start. Garrett's got the most length of a lot of the guys we talked about down in the Minor Leagues.

Relying on young players is nothing new for Scioscia, who has already leaned on Chatwood and first baseman Mark Trumbo to help keep his club within striking distance of the Texas Rangers in the American League West.

Meanwhile, the Yankees are going to have to rely on scouting reports, limited video from the Minor Leagues and hitting instincts when they step in against Richards on Wednesday.

The Yankees' bats have been quieted in previous seasons against new faces on the pitcher's mound, but 2011 has been a different story. The Yankees will have to be successful against the rookie if they hope to keep pace in the American league East and keep on top of the race for the Wild Card.