The conclusion of this homestand is with the Angels. The Friday and Saturday games are at 7:05 PM and the Sunday game is a matinee at 1:05 PM. After the game, they embark on a nine game road trip to Minnesota, Oakland and Anaheim.
Scoreboard watch: Tigers at Yankees, A's at Blue Jays, Red Sox at Royals, Rangers at Astros, Orioles at Giants.
Team in a Box
LA Angels of Anaheim |
Offense |
AL Rank |
Pitching |
AL Rank |
|||
2013 Record |
51-62 |
Runs/Game |
4.5 |
7th |
Runs/Game |
4.7 |
13th |
AL West |
4th |
OBP |
330 |
4th |
H/9 |
9.1 |
13th |
Last 10 |
3-7 |
SLG |
420 |
4th |
BB/9 |
3.2 |
12th |
Last 30 |
11-19 |
Steals |
54 |
12th |
SO/9 |
7.4 |
10th |
Amazingly enough it is almost mid-August and we haven't seen the Angels yet this season. But we will play them six times in the next twelve games. After this series we will also visit the West Coast for the final time. The Angels got off to a really poor 11-22 start. But by the beginning of July they had crept back to within two games of .500. But another 8-17 stretch has them where they are today. The offense has not been the trouble. They are in the top third in many categories and above average in the most others. But the pitching staff has been pretty poor most of the season. Only Jered Weaver has been above average for the starters and the key relievers have all struggled. The defense hasn't been good either, leading the league in errors and thirteenth in double plays turned.
Projected Lineup
Pos |
Player |
Bats |
PA |
BA |
OBP |
SLG |
OPS+ |
RF |
Kole Calhoun |
L |
41 |
324 |
390 |
595 |
175 |
CF |
Mike Trout |
R |
516 |
333 |
424 |
580 |
182 |
LF |
Josh Hamilton |
L |
447 |
217 |
271 |
397 |
87 |
1B |
Mark Trumbo |
R |
482 |
240 |
305 |
465 |
115 |
2B |
Howie Kendrick |
R |
451 |
301 |
341 |
437 |
119 |
SS |
Erick Aybar |
S |
379 |
284 |
316 |
386 |
98 |
3B |
Chris Nelson |
R |
41 |
3o8 |
341 |
385 |
106 |
DH |
JB Shuck |
L |
298 |
290 |
334 |
375 |
102 |
C |
Chris Ianetta |
R |
237 |
215 |
356 |
342 |
100 |
Two hitters have recently left the lineup. Alberto Callaspo was dealt to the A's at the deadline and Albert Pujols headed to the DL. Peter Bourjos is still on the DL as well. Kendrick has been day to day lately. If he can't go, expect to see Grant Green (8 PA) in the lineup hitting ninth. Trout has followed up his rookie season with another spectacular one. But somehow I doubt he is in the MVP discussion with Miggy's huge year this year. The rest of the lineup is doing fairly well, except for Hamilton. He is not earning his massive contract yet and likely won't. The bench also consists of Collin Cowgill (119 OPS+), Thomas Field (13 PA) and Hank Conger (99 OPS+).
Projected Starters
Date |
Player |
Throws |
ERA |
IP |
ERA+ |
H/9 |
BB/9 |
K/9 |
Aug 9 |
Jered Weaver (Jimenez) |
R |
2.90 |
96.1 |
129 |
7.8 |
2.2 |
7.3 |
Aug 10 |
CJ Wilson (Kazmir) |
L |
3.49 |
147.0 |
107 |
8.6 |
3.4 |
8.4 |
Aug 11 |
Jerome Williams (Masterson) |
R |
4.77 |
115.0 |
78 |
9.6 |
3.1 |
5.2 |
Weaver has been the lone bright spot in the rotation this season for the Angels. His numbers are right along his career norms. And if the offense gave him any support, his record would be much better. Weaver has been excellent against the Tribe in his career, 6-2 in 14 starts, a 2.88 ERA and a 1.281 WHIP. Wilson has been right around league average since signing with the Angels in 2012. Too bad he is getting paid like a #2 starter instead. His numbers against the Tribe have been even better than Weaver's. He is 2-2 in 5 starts, a 2.64 ERA, 0.923 WHIP and a 9.4 K/9 rate. Williams is a former first round pick of the Giants back in 1999. He made it to the majors in 2003 as a 21 year old. But by 2005 he was mostly ineffective. By 2008 he was back in the minors and missed the entire 2010 season. The Angels picked him up in 2011. With the recent injuries on the Angels staff, he moved from the bullpen to the rotation. He has never faced the Tribe.
Key Relievers
Player |
Throws |
ERA |
IP |
ERA+ |
H/9 |
BB/9 |
K/9 |
Ernesto Frieri |
R |
4.79 |
47.0 |
79 |
7.9 |
5.0 |
13.2 |
Kevin Jepsen |
R |
4.20 |
30.0 |
90 |
9.9 |
3.3 |
9.0 |
Dane De La Rosa |
R |
3.81 |
52.0 |
99 |
8.1 |
2.9 |
8.1 |
Frieri has really struggled of late. Since the All-Star game he has four saves, two blown saves, three losses and a 14.73 ERA in 7.1 innings. That K/9 rate is great, but man does he walk a lot of guys. He did get a save in his single career appearance against the Indians last season. Jepsen has been just so-so since the All-Star break, his ERA is 4.32, but his WHIP is just under 1.800. His career numbers against the Tribe have been deceivingly good. His ERA is only 0.87 in 10.1 innings, but he has a WHIP of 1.548. De La Rosa has recently been getting more shots as the set-up guy. He has never faced the Indians before. Other options include Michael Kohn (115 ERA+), Nick Maronde (5.1 IP), JC Gutierrez (6 IP) and Joe Blanton (68 ERA+).
On the Shelf
- CF Peter Bourjos (fractured right wrist) - 15-day DL, on AAA rehab
- 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) - day-to-day
- 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
- SP Jason Vargas (blood clot in left armpit) - 15-day DL, on AAA rehab
As mentioned above, Bourjos, Pujols and Kendrick are missing from the lineup. I expect Kendrick to play however. Pujols has an outside chance at returning before the end of the season, but I bet he gets shut down.
Almanac
W |
L |
Pct |
RS |
RA |
Pythag |
|
2013 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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 |
292 |
315 |
481 |
2605 |
2734 |
478 |