On Thursday, July 3, the Los Angeles Angels (42-43) face off against the Atlanta Braves (39-46) at Truist Park, with José Soriano pitching for the Angels against the Braves' Bryce Elder. The Braves leveled the series 1-1 following an 8-3 victory, highlighted by a seven-run sixth inning, featuring impressive performances from Sean Murphy and Matt Olson. Despite this win, the Braves have struggled lately, posting a 2-5 record in their last seven games. In contrast, the Angels have been on a roll with a 5-3 record in their last eight games.

As we preview this matchup, key stats and insights are crucial for fantasy sports players and bettors. Soriano holds a 5-5 record with a 3.99 ERA, while Elder's season stats reflect a 2-5 record with a 5.82 ERA. The latest odds show the Angels at +119 on the moneyline and the Braves at -141, favoring the home team. Betters might find value in the Angels covering a +1.5 spread, while totals suggest an under on 9 runs. Stay tuned for predictions and insights from experts as the game unfolds.

On July 3, 2025, a strong lineup of MLB player prop bets is highlighted, focusing particularly on home run props. Riley Greene of the Detroit Tigers is noted for his impressive performance against right-handed pitchers, recently smashing four home runs in three games. The analysis suggests that Greene's matchup against Jake Irvin, who has struggled to prevent home runs, presents an excellent opportunity for bettors.

Jo Adell from the Los Angeles Angels is another standout pick, with favorable odds against Bryce Elder, a pitcher notorious for giving up home runs. Adell has been on a power surge, and his metrics against sliders suggest he could capitalize on Elder's weaknesses. Rafael Devers also gets a mention, facing Brandon Pfaadt, as he tries to regain his power stroke since joining the San Francisco Giants. The advice is to take advantage of Devers’ historically high home run rate against left-handed pitching.

Will Smith of the Los Angeles Dodgers is highlighted for his current form, having hit home runs in two of his last three games. The favorable matchup against Aaron Civale, combined with Smith's past success against him, makes this a smart bet. Lastly, Lane Thomas of the Cleveland Guardians is recommended as a longshot, given his recent uptick in power and favorable conditions against a rookie pitcher.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will feature three fan-elected All-Stars in the upcoming game, with first baseman Freddie Freeman and catcher Will Smith joining designated hitter Shohei Ohtani. This marks a significant moment as Freeman heads back to Atlanta, where he previously played for 11 seasons. Additionally, the Detroit Tigers will have three fan-picked starters, their first since 2007, led by Gleyber Torres and outfielders Riley Greene and Javier Báez. Other notable selections include Cal Raleigh of Seattle and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of Toronto for the American League.

In a tight race for the last AL outfield slot, Báez edged out Mike Trout with a narrow win. The 2023 All-Star Game, set for July 15 at Atlanta's Truist Park, will feature a mix of veterans and newcomers, with nine first-time starters making the cut. The announcement for pitchers and reserves is expected soon, adding to the excitement as fans anticipate the matchup.

The 2025 MLB season is reaching its midpoint, revealing playoff races heating up and distinct patterns in player performance. Advanced metrics have evolved past traditional luck explanations, pinpointing hitters suffering from bad luck. RotoWire's analysis breaks down the unluckiest hitters, showcasing players like Juan Soto and Bryan Reynolds, who despite lower stats, show significant gaps between their expected and actual performance.

Juan Soto, now with the New York Mets, signed a historic $765 million contract but has yet to fully hit his stride, while Bryan Reynolds of the Pittsburgh Pirates struggles despite a promising expected slugging percentage. Meanwhile, Mike Trout of the Angels has faced injury woes impacting his season. Statistically, Trout's expected metrics suggest he should be faring better than his .230 batting average. Others like Brenton Doyle and Michael Conforto similarly face unfortunate trends that impact their fantasy value.