News
Lackey sets sights on win No. 100
Los Angeles (73-45) at Cleveland (51-68), 4:05 p.m. PT
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
08/19/09 10:08 PM ET
CLEVELAND -- Chuck Finley, Nolan Ryan, Mike Witt and Frank Tanana. It's an exclusive club -- Angels pitchers with 100 or more victories -- and John Lackey is on the verge of joining. With a victory in the series finale against the Indians, Lackey will reach triple digits in wins in his career: 100, on the nose. "It puts me in a certain class in the time I've been here, especially with the time I've missed the last two years," Lackey said. "It means I've been out there, for the most part, and productive." Lackey has absorbed only 68 losses with his 99 wins, and his career ERA is 3.80 across 1,443 innings since making his Major League debut during the 2002 World Series championship run. After missing the season's opening six weeks for the second year in a row, this time with a right forearm strain, Lackey has been making up for lost time with a succession of strong outings in reestablishing himself as the staff's lead dog. In nine of his past 10 starts, Lackey has yielded three or fewer earned runs. Giving an overworked bullpen much-needed rest, the big Texan has delivered at least seven innings in six of his past seven and 10 of his past 12 starts. At his best in unfriendly environs, Lackey is 4-1 in 10 road tests with a 3.63 ERA across 62 innings pitched. Facing Lackey in a duel of 6-foot-6 right-handers is Justin Masterson, part of the package Boston delivered to Cleveland in exchange for catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez at the non-waiver Trade Deadline. Pitching matchupLAA: RHP John Lackey (8-5, 3.73 ERA)
Lackey picked up his eighth win of the season in his last start, lasting seven innings and allowing just one run. The right-hander issued one walk and had six strikeouts to lead the Angels to a 5-1 win over the Orioles. Lackey is 6-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 13 career starts against the Indians and has been lights-out at Progressive Field -- 1.62 ERA in five starts -- despite a 3-2 record. CLE: RHP Justin Masterson (3-4, 4.70 ERA)
Masterson used every bit of his increased pitch count in his last start Friday against the Twins. Unfortunately, he needed 83 pitches to record 10 outs. In the start, Masterson allowed seven runs (six earned) in 3 1/3 innings, walking five and allowing six hits. The outing ended a recent stretch in which he had been superb, having allowed only one run in his previous 14 innings. Masterson has allowed five earned runs to the Angels in seven innings over two appearances (one start) this season. Tidbits
The Angels have some history with Masterson from his Red Sox days. Jeff Mathis, who figures to catch Lackey, is 3-for-5 against Masterson with three RBIs. Mike Napoli is 2-for-5 against the big right-hander with a homer. Torii Hunter is 2-for-6 with a homer and two RBIs, but leadoff man Chone Figgins has struggled against Masterson: 0-for-7 with two strikeouts. Facing Masterson in a Yankees uniform, Bobby Abreu was 2-for-6 with a double. ... Joe Saunders said he is eager to get on a mound, hopefully this weekend in Toronto, and show that he's ready to regain his spot in the rotation. Saunders threw freely, without pain in his left shoulder, from about 250 feet on Tuesday. He is hopeful the time off -- his most recent start was on Aug. 7 -- will have his arm fresh and alive for the stretch run. ... For the record: When all nine Angels in Tuesday night's lineup finished the night at .300 or better, it was the first time since 1934 that a team had done that at least 100 games into a season. The Tigers did it on Sept. 9. Tickets
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• KLAA 830, KFWB, KWKW 1330 (Español) Up next
• Friday: Angels (Sean O'Sullivan, 3-1, 5.91) at Blue Jays (Marc Rzepczynski, 1-3, 3.98), 4:07 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Angels (Ervin Santana, 6-6, 6.25) at Blue Jays (Scott Richmond, 6-6, 4.01), 10:07 a.m. PT
• Sunday: Angels (Trevor Bell, 1-0, 5.91) at Blue Jays (Ricky Romero, 10-5, 3.95), 10:07 a.m. PT
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
