Baltimore @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 8, 2012 ) Baltimore 0, LA Angels 6

Only the lowly Houston Astros and Miami Marlins have won fewer games than the Los Angeles Angels as the Baltimore Orioles arrive in Anaheim for Thursday’s opener of a four-game series. The Angels are 10-17 one-sixth of the way through the campaign despite adding slugger Josh Hamilton to a lineup featuring Albert Pujols and Mike Trout. But the offense has struggled and the pitching has been subpar during the Angels’ slow start.

Baltimore is 4-3 on an 11-game West Coast swing. The Orioles won the first three of the excursion before losing three of their last four games, including an 8-3 setback to the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Baltimore is waiting for shortstop J.J. Hardy to get his bat rolling. Hardy is batting .194 with three homers after averaging 26 over the past two seasons. The trio of Hamilton, Pujols and Trout have combined for nine homers. Trout hit his third in Wednesday’s victory over the Oakland Athletics, a win that ended a four-game losing skid. Pujols has four and Hamilton has two. Mark Trumbo hit his team-high sixth homer Wednesday.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network 2 (Baltimore), Fox Sports West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (1-1, 4.73 ERA) vs. Angels RH Joe Blanton (0-4, 7.09)

Tillman defeated the Oakland Athletics in his last outing when he gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings. It was his second straight strong start after he allowed one run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings in a no-decision against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Anaheim native is pitching at Angel Stadium for the first time. His first major-league win came against Los Angeles in 2009 in his lone career outing against the Angels.

Blanton had his best start of the season in his last outing when he gave up three runs and nine hits in six innings while losing to Seattle. He had allowed four or more runs in each of his first four outings. Blanton has an unsightly 2.10 WHIP and opponents are batting .379 against him. He is 2-2 with a 5.36 ERA in seven career starts against Baltimore.

WALK-OFFS

1. Hamilton has 11 career homers in 155 at-bats against Baltimore pitchers.

2. Angels 3B Alberto Callaspo could be activated prior to the series opener. He has been sidelined since April 11 because of a sprained calf.

3. Baltimore OF Nick Markakis is 6-for-12 with a homer against Blanton.

PREDICTION: Orioles 9, Angels 7