After some upsetting late-game upsets earlier this week, the Angels head out to Detroit to face a slumping Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers.
Listen here. I know it has been one tough week. The Athletics broke some hearts late on Monday and Tuesday. The Halos have already lost Josh Hamilton and now Kole Calhoun is down for some time. That takes away two of the American League's top five guys in wins above replacement (WAR). Luckily, Mike Trout is tied for first on that list and he is still around. But all of the bad news did not stop them from hanging on for dear life to win Wednesday's game. Momentum! That is what this team has going into Friday, right? Maybe.
Drew Smyly and droopy Jered Weaver head to the mound on Friday night. Smyly has just been removed from the bullpen in favor of a spot in the starting rotation. It will be his first time starting a game since the 2012 season. Saturday afternoon's game, which will air on FOX Sports 1 and not FSW, features C.J. Wilson and Max Scherzer. Last time out, C.J. gave up two runs with six hits across seven innings against the Mets. Not bad, although he did have three walks. And on Sunday afternoon we have two New Jersey natives pitchers in Hector Santiago and Rick Porcello. Santiago was stellar on Monday night, but the Halos were not able to seal the deal for him.
Where do last year's American League MVP winner and runner-up stand so far this season? Mike Trout is Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera is quiet. While the season is young, it is great news considering the Angels bullpen has yet to find any consistency. Even the three-time National League MVP is outplaying Cabrera. Albert Pujols is has a .338 on-base percentage while being four home runs shy of his 500th. Cabrera, however, is batting .227 and has struck out eleven times.
With all of that said, enjoy the rundown for this weekend:
April 18 4:08pm (51, rain) -- FOX Sports West, FOX Sports Detroit
W-L | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | |
Jered Weaver | 0-2 | 5.79 | 1.125 | 17 | 7 |
W-L ERA WHIP K BB Drew Smyly 1-0 0.00 0.500 6 1
April 19 10:08am (55, clear) -- FOX Sports 1
W-L | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | |
C.J. Wilson | 2-1 | 3.92 | 1.162 | 24 | 6 |
W-L ERA WHIP K BB Max Scherzer 0-1 2.70 1.050 25 5
April 20 10:08am (69, clear) -- FOX Sports West, FOX Sports Detroit
W-L | ERA | WHIP | K | BB | |
Hector Santiago | 0-2 | 4.96 | 1.469 | 13 | 7 |
W-L ERA WHIP K BB Rick Porcello 1-1 4.15 1.154 8 2
Injury Report
Name Status Est. Return LAA Ryan Brasier (right elbow)
Sean Burnett (left elbow)
Kole Calhoun (right ankle)
Dane De La Rosa (right shoulder)
Josh Hamilton (left thumb)
Brian Moran (left elbow)
*Don Baylor60-day DL
15-day DL
15-day DL
15-day DL
15-day DL
Season over
HomeTBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Late May
2015
No commentDET Andy Dirks (back)
Jose Iglesias (both shins)
Bruce Rondon15-day DL
60-day DL
Season overJune
Late 2014
2015
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