Detroit @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2009 ) Detroit 2, LA Angels 4
The eight-season career of Dontrelle Willis has been one long, strange journey for the Detroit Tigers left-hander.
In his first season as a member of the Florida Marlins, Willis won 14 games on his way to being named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2003. Two years later, the then 23-year-old captured 22 victories and was second in Cy Young Award voting.
Then the wheels fell off and Willis has yet to put them back on. He followed up with lackluster campaigns over the next two seasons before being shipped off to the Tigers.
Without having thrown a pitch, Willis was given a $29 million contract that he has failed miserably at fulfilling. So far through 16 starts with the Tigers, Willis has recorded one victory, in part due to an anxiety disorder that was affecting his performance on the mound.
Things were so bad that Willis wasn’t even guaranteed to make the roster out of spring training. He did, however, end up with a spot in the rotation thanks to a trade that sent out one of his biggest competitors, Nate Robertson.
Now, the 28-year-old is trying to reclaim the success he once had and become at least a serviceable pitcher in the majors.
Willis will eye his first win of this season when he takes the hill against the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of a four-game set beginning Monday.
Willis has been up to par through two appearances, both against the Kansas City Royals, with a 4.91 ERA in 11 innings in two no-decisions.
Opposing him is Angels starter Joel Pineiro, who has enjoyed much success in his career against Detroit, posting a record of 6-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 11 appearances (nine starts).
Pineiro, in his inaugural campaign with the Angels, followed-up a so-so first start with a strong performance against the New York Yankees in his last outing. The right-hander limited New York’s potent lineup to just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts over seven innings.
After starting slow out of the gate, the Angels are rounding into gear and are fresh-off a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Detroit stopped a three-game skid with a 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. They were lead by Miguel Cabrera, who belted a three-run homer, and leads the squad in hitting at .370 and RBIs with 14.