News
Angels get break, then back to grind
Los Angeles (90-62) vs. Oakland (73-80), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
09/23/09 7:35 PM ET
ANAHEIM -- With the Angels playing 50 games in 52 days to end the regular season, the club is certainly looking forward to Thursday when the club gets its first day off after playing 20 straight games. It'll be a welcome respite for the team to "recharge," as Angels manager Mike Scioscia often puts it, especially after getting through last week, when they traveled to New York, Boston and Texas in a grueling seven-day road trip with no days off for travel. "I think a lot of us have talked about this, because I don't think there's ever been an off-day more needed than the one tomorrow," Scioscia said. "West Coast travel is tough. I think what we've done [over that period] is remarkable." The Angels have gone 22-18 so far through the first 40 games of their tough 50-game stretch, despite having just one day off coming on Sept. 3 that was spent traveling from Seattle to Kansas City. "It's been a grind," Scioscia said. "The schedule is tough for every team, but I think the depth of our team has surfaced and has gotten us through this grind." But once the team gets its much-needed day of rest, the focus will be back on working toward clinching its fifth American League West title as it hosts a three-game series against Oakland starting Friday. Their magic number is down to five entering the Rangers' game against the A's on Wednesday, meaning the Angels could possibly be celebrating their third successive division title by the end of their three-game series at Angel Stadium. Scioscia, though, makes sure to tell his players that the division race is still not over, even though the club has a sizeable lead over the Rangers. "We're just trying to win games," reliever Kevin Jepsen said. "We haven't made it to where we're for sure in the playoffs. So once we get to that point, we'll start looking ahead, but for now we still have a lot of work to do." And until the Angels officially clinch that title, Scioscia won't talk about playoff matchups or his starting rotation for the playoffs. Scioscia made sure to say that "there are no auditions" for a spot in the club's playoff rotation, but right-hander Jered Weaver will do his best to impress when he takes the hill for the Angels on Friday against the A's. Weaver will try to keep it rolling for the Angels' starting rotation, which currently has the best ERA in the AL this month, with all five starters on a roll. But the trick, as always for the Angels, will be to pair their recent pitching success with their offense, which ranks second in the Majors in runs, and their defense, which has the third-best fielding percentage in the AL. "It's tough to do, because it's hard to get all three working at the same time," said leadoff hitter and catalyst Chone Figgins. "But hopefully down the stretch, we can get it all going with our pitching, defense and hitting." Pitching matchupLAA: RHP Jered Weaver (15-7, 3.87 ERA)
Weaver gets an extra day between starts because of the day off, and if anyone has earned it, he's the guy. The only Angels starter not to miss a turn, Weaver is coming off a solid six innings in Texas, yielding three earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four. He reached 200 innings for the first time in his four seasons, a testament to his increased stamina and endurance. Weaver has been stellar at home (9-2, 2.89 ERA in 16 starts) and has a strange history with the A's, going 2-2 in nine outings despite an excellent ERA of 2.93. OAK: LHP Gio Gonzalez (5-6, 6.15 ERA)
Gonzalez couldn't get out of the fourth inning for the second successive start. He's given up eight earned runs and 10 hits over his past 6 2/3 innings. He's made one start against the Angels, giving up four runs and walking five in three innings on Aug. 27, 2008, in Anaheim. Tidbits
The Angels are 8-5 against the A's this season. The two teams still play each other six more times this year, including their three-game series this weekend. ... The Angels will reach 3 million fans this season for the seventh consecutive year, a feat only the Dodgers and Yankees have accomplished. ... Angels first baseman Kendry Morales reached base six consecutive times before striking out in the fourth inning against the Yankees on Wednesday. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
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• KLAA 830, KFWB, KWKW 1330 (Español) Up next
• Saturday: Angels (John Lackey, 11-8, 3.56) vs. Athletics (TBD), 6:05 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Angels (Joe Saunders, 14-7, 4.63) vs. Athletics (Edgar Gonzalez, 0-3, 5.22), 12:35 p.m. PT
• Monday: Angels (Ervin Santana, 7-8, 5.46) vs. Rangers (TBD), 7:05 p.m. PT
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
