Oakland @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Last Meeting ( Jul 19, 2013 ) Oakland 1, LA Angels 4
The Los Angeles Angels entered the season as the favorites to win the American League West but found themselves 11 games behind the Oakland Athletics at the All-Star break. Los Angeles kicked off the second half with an impressive victory over host Oakland and looks to inch even closer to the division-leading Athletics when the clubs resume their three-game series Saturday. Jered Weaver tossed 6 2/3 superb innings and the Angels belted three home runs in Friday's 4-1 triumph.
Superstars Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton each recorded two hits and an RBI, with the former swatting one of Los Angeles' three solo homers. The loss was the third in five games for the Athletics, who remain two games ahead of the Texas Rangers in the AL West. Oakland was without Home Run Derby champion Yoenis Cespedes on Friday as the Cuban sat out with a sore left wrist.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Dan Straily (6-2, 4.28 ERA) vs. Angels LH C.J. Wilson (9-6, 3.37)
Straily will be recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to make his 15th start of the season. The 24-year-old won his fifth straight decision July 9, limiting the Pirates to one run and two hits over 6 1/3 innings in a 2-1 triumph at Pittsburgh. Straily, who is 1-0 in three career starts versus Los Angeles, escaped with a no-decision against the Angels on April 29 after yielding six runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Wilson also has pitched well of late, going 5-1 over his last six starts while allowing fewer than three earned runs five times. The 32-year-old held the Cubs to one run and four hits over seven innings in a victory at Chicago on July 10. Wilson improved to 8-7 lifetime against Oakland on May 1, when he allowed two runs and six hits in 6 1/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Straily has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his last nine starts.
2. Oakland has won 11 of its last 14 road meetings with Los Angeles.
3. Angels RHP Tommy Hanson (forearm) could be activated from the disabled list to start against Minnesota on Tuesday.
PREDICTION: Angels 5, Athletics 2