Tampa Bay @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( May 12, 2010 ) Tampa Bay 4, LA Angels 3
Disneyland might be the "happiest place on earth" but it served as a nightmare for the Tampa Bay Rays for most of this century.
The Rays went winless in 15 series at Angel Stadium, going 0-14-1 and dropping 38 of 47 games from May 14-16, 1999, until earlier this season.
Tampa Bay finally ended that streak by winning a series on May 10-12, and now the Rays are back for a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels on Anaheim, which starts on Monday night. Tampa Bay is 16-41 all-time at Angel Stadium and 3-14 under manager Joe Maddon.
Tampa Bay managed to split a four-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday with a 3-2 victory. The Rays (76-48) are one game behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.
The Angels (62-63) have lost three consecutive series, and were blanked by the Minnesota Twins, 4-0, on Sunday night. They trail the AL West-leading Texas Rangers by eight games.
Monday's game features a pitching battle between former Rays teammates.
James Shields (11-11, 4.82 ERA) faces Scott Kazmir (8-10, 6.40 ERA), who used to be the face of the Rays’ franchise.
Shields will make his 144th all-time start on Monday, tying Kazmir for the most in club history. Should Shields win, he also would tie Kazmir for the most victories in franchise history with 55.
Shields is 4-3 with a 3.18 ERA against the Angels in eight career starts.
The right-hander has allowed an American League-worst 29 home runs. Angels designated hitter Hideki Matsui is 8-for-19 with three homers against Shields.
Two years ago, Kazmir was the ace of the Rays staff and helped lead them to a berth in the 2008 World Series. But he started 2009 on the disabled list and went on it again in May. He was traded to the Angels on Aug. 28 for two minor-leaguers and second baseman Sean Rodriguez in what many considered a move by the Rays to cut salary. He makes $8 million this season.
Kazmir is 0-5 with a 7.30 ERA in his last five home starts and has not gone more than 6 1/3 innings in his past 12 starts dating to May 22.
Kazmir is making his second start against Tampa Bay. He lost 7-2 on May 11 when he allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings. Kazmir is coming off a 7-5 loss on Wednesday to the Boston Red Sox when he allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings.
Tampa Bay right-hander Andy Sonnanstine is back in the bullpen after making three starts with Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis on the 15-day disabled list. Niemann and Davis will be starting the next two games in this series, but Sonnanstine said he will use the starting experience to help him in relief.
Angels third baseman Maicer Izturis went on the disabled list Sunday with inflammation in his right shoulder. The Angels recalled right-handed reliever Jordan Walden from Triple-A Salt Lake, and he pitched a scoreless eighth in his major-league debut.