Neither the Los Angeles Angels or the Tampa Bay Rays are playing particularly good baseball at the moment. I'm taking the extra run on the visiting Halos when the two slumping teams clash in the opener of a four-game set at the Trop today.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. The Angels hand the ball to Nick Tropeano (3-2, 3.25 ERA) who will be replacing Jhoulys Chacin in the rotation. Tropeano allowed two or fewer runs in seven of 10 starts to open the season before missing time with a shoulder injury. He surrendered three runs on seven hits but struck out a season-best 10 in 5 1/3 innings of a loss to Tampa Bay on May 8. The Rays counter with Matt Moore (4-5, 4.67) who held the Red Sox scoreless over seven innings his last time out. Moore has been inconsistent all year though and had surrendered five runs in 6 2/3 innings his previous start.

2. Home Woes - The Rays have lost each of their last four home at Tropicana Field and five of the last seven when hosting the Halos.

3. X-Factor - Albert Pujols is 15-for-37 with three homers during a nine-game hitting streak.

Selection: This is a play on the Los Angeles Angels +1.5 (8*)