The final west coast games of this season are with the Angels (save a potential playoff series with the A's). The Monday and Tuesday games are at 10:05 PM and the Wednesday game is at 7:05 PM. After the game, the Indians fly home, take a day off and have the shortest scheduled homestand of the year, a three game set with the Minnesota Twins. After another day off, they will go back on the road to visit the Braves and Tigers.
Scoreboard watch: Blue Jays at Yankees, Rays at Orioles, Twins at Tigers, Astros at Rangers, White Sox at Royals, Mariners at A's, Red Sox at Giants.
Team in a Box
LA Angels of Anaheim |
Offense |
AL Rank |
Pitching |
AL Rank |
|||
2013 Record |
55-68 |
Runs/Game |
4.6 |
6th |
Runs/Game |
4.8 |
13th |
AL West |
4th |
OBP |
331 |
3rd |
H/9 |
9.4 |
13th |
Last 10 |
4-6 |
SLG |
417 |
4th |
BB/9 |
3.2 |
11th |
Last 30 |
11-19 |
Steals |
64 |
9th |
SO/9 |
7.4 |
10th |
*all stats through Wednesday's games except for records
Welcome to the short turnaround. In a quasi home and home, the Tribe visit the Angels after just playing them in Cleveland a mere ten days ago. After the Angels took two of three from us, they lost three of four to the Yankees in New York and lost two of three from the Astros at home. They have only had one decent start in that stretch, by Garrett Richards in a complete game 2-1 loss to Hiroki Kuroda. Jason Vargas and Jered Weaver both got lit up. The offense has been ok in those seven games, averaging 4.6 runs/game.
Projected Lineup
Pos |
Player |
Bats |
PA |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS+ |
CF |
Peter Bourjos |
R |
155 |
314 |
371 |
431 |
128 |
RF |
Collin Cowgill |
R |
46 |
302 |
333 |
442 |
119 |
LF |
Mike Trout |
R |
557 |
330 |
429 |
571 |
183 |
DH |
Josh Hamilton |
L |
488 |
227 |
281 |
412 |
95 |
1B |
Mark Trumbo |
R |
519 |
237 |
301 |
462 |
114 |
SS |
Erick Aybar |
S |
413 |
285 |
319 |
384 |
100 |
3B |
Chris Nelson |
R |
80 |
274 |
338 |
397 |
109 |
C |
Chris Ianetta |
R |
318 |
212 |
355 |
333 |
99 |
2B |
Grant Green |
R |
40 |
382 |
475 |
441 |
164 |
Bourjos was recently activated, shuffling the lineup a bit. Also Kendrick was finally put on the DL, also changing the lineup. Trout, obviously, is the key to this lineup. But, most of the fill-in players have done pretty well, although SSS obviously applies. The bench consists of J.B. Shuck (101 OPS+), Kory Calhoun (98), Andrew Romine (8) and Hank Conger (102). Shuck could easily play two of the games in Cowgill's spot and Conger probably get at least one start.
Projected Starters
Date |
Player |
Throws |
ERA |
IP |
ERA+ |
H/9 |
BB/9 |
K/9 |
Aug 19 |
Jered Weaver (Salazar) |
R |
3.49 |
108.1 |
108 |
8.2 |
2.2 |
7.1 |
Aug 20 |
CJ Wilson (McAllister) |
L |
3.40 |
159.0 |
111 |
8.9 |
3.4 |
8.3 |
Aug 21 |
Jerome Williams (Masterson) |
R |
4.90 |
125.0 |
77 |
9.5 |
3.2 |
5.7 |
We get to see the exact same three starters that we did in Cleveland. Only our pitchers have been shuffled slightly. Weaver beat Kazmir in Cleveland, pitching seven strong innings, six hits, no walks, four strikeouts and two runs on solo shots by Asdrubal Cabrera and Michael Brantley. He followed that up with a stinker in the Bronx, nine runs in five innings. On nine hits three walks, four strikeouts and two more bombs. Wilson beat Ubaldo Jimenez 7-2, seven hits, four walks, six strikeouts, a hit batter, and two runs in 5.1 innings. He dodged a lot of trouble in the Bronx, scattering 11 hits and a walk in 6.2 innings, three strikeouts and only one run, but got the win. Williams was dealing against the Tribe, only allowing one single through five innings. He even struck out the first two in the sixth before Swisher and Aviles both hit two run homers off him. He didn't get out of the fifth against the Astros, five hits, four walks, five strikeouts and three runs in 4.1 innings.
Key Relievers
Player |
Throws |
ERA |
IP |
ERA+ |
H/9 |
BB/9 |
K/9 |
Dane De La Rosa |
R |
3.56 |
55.2 |
106 |
7.9 |
3.1 |
8.1 |
Ernesto Frieri |
R |
4.41 |
51.0 |
86 |
7.6 |
4.6 |
13.4 |
Kevin Jepsen |
R |
4.36 |
33.0 |
87 |
10.1 |
3.5 |
9.3 |
It seems like De La Rosa has become the de facto closer since we last met, but hasn't had any save opportunities. He does have one save on the season in our August 9 game, pitching a perfect ninth with one punchout. After notching his first career save, he has pitched 2.2 scoreless innings, with two hits a walk and three strikeouts. Frieri also pitched a perfect inning in the last series. He also has three scoreless innings since, two hits and six strikeouts in two appearances. Jepsen pitched in the last two games of the last series, no hits, one walk and three strikeouts in 1.2 innings. He has struggled since then though, two runs on four hits, one walk and one strikeout in 1.1 innings spanning three appearances. Other options include Michael Kohn (95 ERA+), JC Gutierrez (66), Joe Blanton (62 ERA+) and Buddy Boshers (3.1 IP).
On the Shelf
- SP Sean Burnett (elbow surgery) - 60-day DL, out for season
- RP Robert Coello (right shoulder inflammation) - 15-day DL, out for season
- 2B Howard Kendrick (hyperextended left knee) - 15-day DL, possibly August 21
- 1B Albert Pujols (partial tear of left plantar fascia) - 15-day DL, possible Sept return
- RP Andrew Taylor (small tear in left labrum) - 60-day DL, on Rookie League rehab
Since last we met, Bourjos and Jason Vargas have been activated with Tommy Hanson and Tommy Field both sent back to AAA. And Kendrick went from day to day, to a spot on the DL.
Almanac
W |
L |
Pct |
RS |
RA |
Pythag |
|
2013 |
1 |
2 |
333 |
10 |
17 |
275 |
2012 |
5 |
4 |
556 |
45 |
34 |
625 |
Last 5* |
19 |
23 |
452 |
173 |
167 |
516 |
Last 10* |
39 |
48 |
448 |
373 |
373 |
500 |
All-Time |
293 |
317 |
480 |
2615 |
2751 |
477 |
*Does not include 2013 stats