MLB Odds: LA Angels, Athletics finish set
The Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics finish their three-game set in an AL West battle on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball.
First pitch from Angel Stadium of Anaheim will be an early 4:05 p.m. (PT). Los Angeles will send Dan Haren (4-1, 1.46 ERA) to the mound against Tyson Ross (1-2, 4.82 ERA).
Los Angeles (13-10) took the first game of this series on Monday night 5-0 as a 150 favorite. Jered Weaver threw a complete-game seven hitter to improve to 6-0. The team trails Texas by 1.5 games in the AL West standings pending Tuesday’s Game 2 result.
Manager Mike Scioscia has been forced to tinker with his lineup lately. The Angels started this seven-game homestand getting swept four games by Boston, scoring just five total runs. Scioscia’s moves paid off Monday with the five runs and they’re averaging 3.9 runs on the season, ninth in the AL.
Los Angeles’ team ERA is much better at 3.02, second in the AL. The bullpen has been terrific (2.78 ERA) with Jordan Walden taking over the closer job from Fernando Rodney. The starting staff has been a mixed bag, going 9-2 in games started by Weaver or Haren, 4-8 with everyone else.
Haren last started Friday against Boston, a 4-3 defeat. He allowed four runs (two earned) over six innings, getting beaten by Jon Lester. It might have been a different result if not for a blown fly ball in the fourth inning that led to two unearned runs.
The loss was Haren’s first in 13 starts, dating back to August 20 of last year. He was acquired last July from Arizona and was 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA down the stretch.
The 30-year-old righty is in his second stint in the AL, having previously pitched with Oakland before going to Arizona in 2008. He faced his former Oakland team once last year in September, allowing two earned runs over six innings in a 4-2 home win.
Haren’s has a 1.13 home ERA this year. His other home start was a one-hit, 2-0 shutout over Cleveland on April 12.
The Athletics (11-12) are trying not to fall too far back in the division, currently a 3.5 game deficit behind Texas. They started this road trip by splitting four games at Seattle and are 7-7 away this year.
This was always considered a pitching oriented team and team ERA (2.54) is tops in the AL. Hitting was supposed to be improved with the additions of Hideki Matsui, David DeJesus and Josh Willingham, but runs scored are just 3.48 per game (12th in the AL).
Ross moved into the starting rotation after the injury to Dallas Braden. His one start came last Friday at Seattle, getting yanked after surrendering three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. Seattle won 4-0.
The 24-year-old righty walked four last game and has issued eight free passes in just 9 1/3 innings. That’s a good way to get sent back to the pen. He made 26 appearances for Oakland last year (two starts) and walked 20 in 39 1/3 innings.
The 6-foot-6 Ross made one of his two starts last year at Angel Stadium. He allowed three earned runs over 3 2/3 innings, blowing an early 2-0 lead in what turned into a 12-3 skunking.
Oakland is 0-7 in its last seven games in Anaheim, losing six straight there to end last season. However, Oakland is a perfect 6-0 this year in Game 3’s of a series.
Oakland’s Brian Fuentes has six saves this season, taking over for the injured Andrew Bailey. He’d love to get a shot against his former mates.
The ‘under’ is 16-5-2 for the Angels and 12-10-1 for Oakland. The ‘under’ is 9-1-1 in Los Angeles home games and 9-5 in Oakland’s road tilts.
Umpire Tim Timmons will call balls and strikes. Both teams have played well recently with him behind home plate. Los Angeles is 7-1 in the last eight and Oakland 22-5 in the last 27.
Weather should be beautiful and in the upper 70s. Both teams are off Thursday with Oakland hosting Texas in a big weekend series and the Angels traveling to Tampa.
The Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics finish their three-game set in an AL West battle on ESPN’s Wednesday Night Baseball.
First pitch from Angel Stadium of Anaheim will be an early 4:05 p.m. (PT). Los Angeles will send Dan Haren (4-1, 1.46 ERA) to the mound against Tyson Ross (1-2, 4.82 ERA).
Los Angeles (13-10) took the first game of this series on Monday night 5-0 as a 150 favorite. Jered Weaver threw a complete-game seven hitter to improve to 6-0. The team trails Texas by 1.5 games in the AL West standings pending Tuesday’s Game 2 result.
Manager Mike Scioscia has been forced to tinker with his lineup lately. The Angels started this seven-game homestand getting swept four games by Boston, scoring just five total runs. Scioscia’s moves paid off Monday with the five runs and they’re averaging 3.9 runs on the season, ninth in the AL.
Los Angeles’ team ERA is much better at 3.02, second in the AL. The bullpen has been terrific (2.78 ERA) with Jordan Walden taking over the closer job from Fernando Rodney. The starting staff has been a mixed bag, going 9-2 in games started by Weaver or Haren, 4-8 with everyone else.
Haren last started Friday against Boston, a 4-3 defeat. He allowed four runs (two earned) over six innings, getting beaten by Jon Lester. It might have been a different result if not for a blown fly ball in the fourth inning that led to two unearned runs.
The loss was Haren’s first in 13 starts, dating back to August 20 of last year. He was acquired last July from Arizona and was 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA down the stretch.
The 30-year-old righty is in his second stint in the AL, having previously pitched with Oakland before going to Arizona in 2008. He faced his former Oakland team once last year in September, allowing two earned runs over six innings in a 4-2 home win.
Haren’s has a 1.13 home ERA this year. His other home start was a one-hit, 2-0 shutout over Cleveland on April 12.
The Athletics (11-12) are trying not to fall too far back in the division, currently a 3.5 game deficit behind Texas. They started this road trip by splitting four games at Seattle and are 7-7 away this year.
This was always considered a pitching oriented team and team ERA (2.54) is tops in the AL. Hitting was supposed to be improved with the additions of Hideki Matsui, David DeJesus and Josh Willingham, but runs scored are just 3.48 per game (12th in the AL).
Ross moved into the starting rotation after the injury to Dallas Braden. His one start came last Friday at Seattle, getting yanked after surrendering three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings. Seattle won 4-0.
The 24-year-old righty walked four last game and has issued eight free passes in just 9 1/3 innings. That’s a good way to get sent back to the pen. He made 26 appearances for Oakland last year (two starts) and walked 20 in 39 1/3 innings.
The 6-foot-6 Ross made one of his two starts last year at Angel Stadium. He allowed three earned runs over 3 2/3 innings, blowing an early 2-0 lead in what turned into a 12-3 skunking.
Oakland is 0-7 in its last seven games in Anaheim, losing six straight there to end last season. However, Oakland is a perfect 6-0 this year in Game 3’s of a series.
Oakland’s Brian Fuentes has six saves this season, taking over for the injured Andrew Bailey. He’d love to get a shot against his former mates.
The ‘under’ is 16-5-2 for the Angels and 12-10-1 for Oakland. The ‘under’ is 9-1-1 in Los Angeles home games and 9-5 in Oakland’s road tilts.
Umpire Tim Timmons will call balls and strikes. Both teams have played well recently with him behind home plate. Los Angeles is 7-1 in the last eight and Oakland 22-5 in the last 27.
Weather should be beautiful and in the upper 70s. Both teams are off Thursday with Oakland hosting Texas in a big weekend series and the Angels traveling to Tampa.
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