Tampa Bay @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium of Anaheim
Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2013 ) LA Angels 2, Tampa Bay 0
It’s too late for the Los Angeles Angels to make a run at a playoff spot, but they can be a pesky spoiler in September if their strong pitching continues. The Angels come home after an 8-1 road trip to host the struggling Tampa Bay Rays in the first of a four-game series on Monday. Josh Hamilton was limited to pinch-hitting duties in the last three games by a sore shoulder and is expected to return for Los Angeles, who won two of three at Tampa Bay last week.
The Rays have dropped seven of their last eight games, managing only 17 runs in that span, after being swept at Oakland. A turnaround won’t be easy against the Angels, who have allowed only 19 runs in the last nine games. Evan Longoria, who leads Tampa Bay with 28 homers and 72 RBIs, has only two hits in 27 at-bats over the last seven games.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, SunSports (Tampa Bay), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Chris Archer (8-5, 2.81 ERA) vs. Angels RH Garrett Richards (4-6, 4.16)
Archer has been outstanding in his last three starts while yielding only four runs over 21 innings, including a victory in his first game against the Angels last Wednesday. The right-hander, who has surrendered 77 hits in 102 1/3 innings, leads all rookies in the AL in wins. Hamilton is 2-for-5 with a homer against Archer, who owns two shutouts in 2013.
Richards lost to Archer in his last outing, allowing four runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings in his first appearance against the Rays. The right-hander has pitched in 41 games and sports a 4.19 ERA in 11 starts with a 3-4 record. Yunel Escobar is 2-for-4 with a homer and David DeJesus 2-for-2 versus Richards, who has surrendered 113 hits in 110 1/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon was 1-13 at the Angels in his first four years, getting ejected three times, and is 13-3 the last three.
2. Los Angeles rookie OF J.B. Shuck is 12-for-31 with five RBIs over the last seven games, raising his average to .296.
3. The Rays lead the majors with eight complete games after finishing with seven in 2012.
PREDICTION: Rays 4, Angels 2