Oakland @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Last Meeting ( Mar 16, 2013 ) LA Angels 13, Oakland 13
The Los Angeles Angels are off to a slow start, but their big bats may be coming to life. Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton look to carry their solid performances over the weekend into Tuesday when the Angels begin a three-game home set with the Oakland Athletics. Los Angeles opened the season 2-4 in part because its sluggers combined to go 2-for-30, but a two-homer game from Pujols on Saturday and a three-hit game from Hamilton on Sunday may signal the end of their slumps.
Conversely, the Athletics have won five straight and their offense is a big reason why. After collecting a meager one run and six hits as a team in consecutive losses against the Seattle Mariners to open the season, Oakland has compiled 37 runs and 53 hits – including 11 home runs – during its winning streak. Former Houston shortstop Jed Lowrie is batting .500 after collecting two homers and seven hits during the Athletics’ three-game sweep of his former team over the weekend.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (0-1, 7.20 ERA) vs. Angels LH C.J. Wilson (0-0, 4.50)
Parker will be working on six days of rest after yielding four runs and five hits over five innings last Tuesday in a 7-1 home loss against Seattle. It was an uncharacteristic performance for the 24-year-old, who went 6-5 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.18 WHIP at home in 2012 (as opposed to 7-3 with a 4.54 ERA and 1.36 WHIP on the road). Parker won his only career start at Angel Stadium last season, but is 1-2 with a 2.60 ERA in four starts overall against Los Angeles.
Wilson did not factor into the decision in Wednesday’s 5-4 loss against Cincinnati. The Newport Beach, Calif. native allowed four runs – three earned – and five hits over six frames, walking four and striking out four. After beginning 2012 in fine fashion (9-5, 2.43 ERA, 1.16 WHIP), Wilson tailed off badly following the All-Star break last season (4-5, 5.54, 1.57). The left-hander is 7-7 with a 3.57 ERA in 41 appearances – including 12 starts – against the Athletics.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pujols went 3-for-5 with two homers, five RBIs and drew five walks as the designated hitter for Los Angeles over its last two games.
2. Oakland OF Coco Crisp has hit a home run in three straight games, tied for the longest such streak of his career.
3. The Angels took eight of 10 at home from the Athletics last season.
PREDICTION: Angels 6, Athletics 4