Baltimore @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2010 ) Baltimore 3, LA Angels 1
It's unlikely that the Los Angeles Angels were going to get back in the AL West race, but when a team trades its closer in August, the white flag usually flies from above.
The Angels dealt Brian Fuentes, who had 23 saves, to the Minnesota Twins for the infamous player to be named prior to Friday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles.
The trade seemingly ends any slim chance Los Angeles had of overtaking the Texas Rangers in the division. Los Angeles trails Texas by 10 1/2 games.
The Angels will play on despite the deficit, but Saturday's game features pitchers with a combined 10-25 record.
Scott Kazmir, who is one of their biggest disappointments this season, starts Saturday's contest. The left-hander, who in his first full season with the Angels, is 1-6 in his last eight starts and has allowed four earned runs or more five times in that stretch.
Kazmir has simply been unable to keep runners off base, allowing 122 hits and walking 60 in 113 2/3 innings.
His only win since June 18 came when he defeated the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 7. He lost to his former team, the Tampa Bay Rays, in his last start. He yielded four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Baltimore veteran Kevin Millwood is having his worst season of what has been an otherwise solid career. Nothing has gone well for the 34-year-old right-hander, who has yet to beat an American League team this season. His only wins have come against National League teams - San Diego and Florida - in back-to-back starts in June.
Millwood is in his second winless drought of the season. He went 14 starts before winning on June 19 and has gone nine starts since emerging victorious on June 24.
While the Orioles have given the pitcher little run support, Millwood's lack of success is mostly on him. He has allowed five or more earned runs 10 times in 25 starts and has given up 26 home runs - the fourth highest total in the majors.
Millwood's most recent start summed up his season. He gave up three-run homers to Josh Hamilton and Vladimir Guerrero and was charged with six runs in six innings against Texas.
The Orioles took Friday night's opener by a 3-1 score and have won all four games against the Angels this season. Baltimore is 14-9 since Buck Showalter took over as manager on Aug. 3.