Los Angeles @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2009 ) LA Angels 8, Baltimore 5
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are hoping their struggles on the road will end in a place where they've seen success. The Baltimore Orioles are hoping their new manager will help them return to their once-successful ways.
The Angels try to build on a series victory over the Texas Rangers when they take on the Orioles and new manager Buck Showalter on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game set at Camden Yards.
Los Angeles took two of three from Texas over the weekend but still trail the first-place Rangers by eight games in the AL West. Despite the series win, the Angels still have lost five of their last seven contests and eight of 11.
Away from home, Los Angeles has dropped four of its last five and 11 of 14. But the Angels have fared well at Baltimore of late, winning 11 of their last 15 visits and 21 of 29.
Los Angeles went 8-2 against Baltimore last year and have won each of the last six season series.
Meanwhile, the Orioles have struggled to win anywhere, losing nine of their last 11 at home, where they return after completing a 1-6 road trip. Baltimore, which has dropped three in a row and eight of nine, has posted a 3-14 mark since the All-Star break.
The Orioles are all but guaranteed their 13th consecutive losing season and have not finished .500 or better since 1997, when they went 98-64 to capture the AL East title and make their most recent playoff appearance.
Baltimore posted a 17-34 record under interim manager Juan Samuel, who took over for the fired Dave Trembley on June 4. It now begins a new era with Showalter, who was introduced to the media Monday after signing a multi-year contract on Thursday.
The 54-year-old Showalter owns a record of 882-833 over 11 seasons as manager of the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and Rangers. He is a two-time AL Manager of the Year Award winner, claiming the prize with the Yankees in 1994 and the Rangers in 2004.
Making the first start for Baltimore under Showalter will be Jeremy Guthrie, who has pitched well recently.
Despite winning just one of eight decisions over his last 11 starts, Guthrie has gone 1-1 with a 1.31 ERA in his last three outings. On Wednesday, the 31-year-old allowed just an unearned run and six hits in seven innings but took the loss in a 5-0 setback at the Toronto Blue Jays.
Guthrie has posted a 3-5 record and 3.97 ERA in 10 outings at home this year. In five career starts against the Angels, the right-hander is 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA.
Bobby Abreu has just a .227 career average (5-for-22) against Guthrie but has hit four homers and driven in six runs.
Opposing Guthrie will be Trevor Bell, who is making his second start of 2010. The 23-year-old surrendered four runs and eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings of a 6-4 loss at Texas on July 25.
Bell is 0-2 with a 5.79 ERA in nine games on the road this year. In his last eight appearances, the right-hander has allowed 14 earned runs over 11 2/3 innings (10.81 ERA).