Chicago @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 6, LA Angels 2
Tony Pena performed well under emergency conditions and that has earned him his second start of the season.
The right-hander will start in place of injured Gavin Floyd on Sunday when the Chicago White Sox finish a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
After Floyd had to leave his last start after seven pitches with shoulder soreness, Pena entered to throw six scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics.
Pena took a no-decision in the 3-0 loss but fared well, giving up six hits and walking two before leaving. He struck out three.
With the White Sox out of the postseason race, Floyd is unlikely to pitch again this season so Pena could earn another start if he pitches well against the Angels.
This will be Pena’s second start of the season. His other came against the Kansas City Royals in August, when he gave up four runs and five hits in seven innings. He wasn’t involved in the decision.
Pena has made 50 appearances for the White Sox, compiling a 4-2 record and a 4.87 earned-run average.
Jered Weaver starts for the Angels and the right-hander has a shot at winning the major league strikeout title.
Weaver has 220 strikeouts in 32 starts and is just seven strikeouts behind Seattle’s Felix Hernandez, who has made 33 starts. San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum also has 220 strikeouts.
However, Weaver fanned just two hitters in 6 2/3 innings in his most recent start, a win over the Texas Rangers. Weaver allowed three runs and nine hits.
Weaver has won back-to-back starts after going through a stretch in which he went 0-4 in six starts. He threw seven innings of one-hit ball prior to the win over Texas.
Weaver suffered his first career loss to the White Sox early this season when Chicago touched him up for four runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. He has a 4-1 career record and 1.32 ERA in six starts against Chicago.
This season, the All-Star right-hander has a 13-11 mark to go with a 2.99 ERA.
Chicago outfielder Juan Pierre has a .421 career average (8-for-19) against Weaver, while slugger Paul Konerko is just 1-for-14 (.071).
The White Sox are looking for a sweep of the three-game series. Chicago won the opener 2-1 before prevailing 6-2 on Saturday.
Chicago (82-72) clinched a winning record on Saturday.
The Angels (75-79) need to win six of their final games to avoid their first losing season since 2003. Los Angeles won 100 games in 2008 and 97 in 2009.