News
Lackey ready for final ALDS tuneup
Los Angeles (94-64) vs. Texas (85-73), 3:05 p.m. PT
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
10/01/09 2:30 AM ET
ANAHEIM -- Even though Angels manager Mike Scioscia pushed back starters Scott Kazmir and Jered Weaver from their scheduled starts this week after the team clinched the American League West title, right-hander John Lackey will start as originally scheduled on Thursday against the Rangers. But Lackey is expected to throw only a few innings as he prepares for a likely start in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Red Sox on either Wednesday or Thursday at Angel Stadium. "It'll be probably a little shorter tomorrow," Scioscia said of Lackey's start. "It's almost like just getting some work in between starts and getting a good feel." Lackey will be the judge on how long he'll start but Scioscia said it'll likely be less than five innings. "He'll just use his pitches and when he gets to certain level in his workout," Scioscia said, "he'll come out and get ready for whenever he starts." Lackey's start is just part of Scioscia's plan to get his regulars playing time during the final games of the season while getting taken out early. "Guys still need to play," Scioscia said. "They might not play deep into the game, but they still need every day to swing in the batter's box and work on your prep steps defensively. There's certain things you need to maintain." Scioscia used that philosophy on Wednesday as right fielder Bobby Abreu was the only regular held out of the starting lineup against the Rangers but several other players were removed during the game to get rest. Abreu, though, will set a milestone in his next game as it will mark the 12th straight season in which he has played in at least 150 games. Only Pete Rose and Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Billy Williams and Cal Ripken Jr. have accomplished that feat. Pitching matchupLAA: RHP John Lackey (11-8, 3.77 ERA)
Lackey labored through his second straight substandard performance against the A's in a no-decision on Saturday night. He yielded six earned runs on 10 hits and a walk in five innings, striking out two. After a four-game run of excellence (three earned runs, 33 2/3 innings), Lackey has given up 10 earned runs in his past 11 innings. Lackey is 1-2 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts against the Rangers this year and 11-12, 5.83 lifetime in 31 outings. TEX: RHP Kevin Millwood (12-10, 3.75 ERA)
Millwood is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA over his last two starts after winning just twice from July 1 to Sept. 12. He beat the Rays, 15-3, on Saturday while allowing three runs in seven innings. Prior to that, he beat the Athletics while allowing one run in seven innings. This has the potential to being the biggest start in his Rangers career and he is 1-1 with a 6.56 ERA in four starts against the Angels this year. He is 4-5 with a 4.52 ERA against them in his career. Tidbits
Right-hander Jered Weaver was given the Nick Adenhart Award before Wednesday's game as the team's best pitcher as voted on by his teammates. First baseman Kendry Morales was named the team's MVP as also voted on by the players. ... Chone Figgins scored his 114th run this season to set a career high. ... The Angels are hosting a free postseason rally at Angel Stadium after Thursday's game with an approximate start time of 6 PT. Tickets
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• KLAA 830, KFWB, KWKW 1330 (Español) Up next
• Friday: Angels (Jered Weaver, 15-8, 3.84) at Athletics (Gio Gonzalez, 6-6, 5.73), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Angels (Scott Kazmir, 9-9, 5.06) at Athletics (Dana Eveland, 2-3, 7.09), 1:05 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Angels (Joe Saunders, 15-7, 4.62) at Athletics (Edgar Gonzalez, 0-4, 5.51), 1:05 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.
