News
Weaver ready for final pre-ALDS nod
Los Angeles (94-65) at Oakland (75-84), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
10/02/09 12:01 AM EST
ANAHEIM -- Fresh off winning the Nick Adenhart Award as the Angels' best pitcher this season as voted on by his teammates, right-hander Jered Weaver will make his final start of the season on Friday against the A's in the first game of the final regular-season series. His start is expected to be a brief one, just like John Lackey's on Thursday, when the right-hander pitched just two innings against the Rangers before coming out of the game after deciding 40 pitches was enough to get a good feel. Weaver said Thursday he wasn't sure how many innings he'll throw, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia said "it'll probably be a little bit short." Weaver did say his approach, however, will remain the same as when he took the mound in his other 32 starts this season. "You treat it the same way," Weaver said. "You still take the winning mentality out there, but at the same time you're trying to clean some stuff up to get everything mechanically sound going into the playoffs." It'll be Weaver's last tuneup before likely starting Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Red Sox at Angel Stadium on Friday. Scioscia unofficially unveiled his starting rotation for the first-round of the playoffs with Lackey and Weaver starting the first two games, and then left-handers Scott Kazmir and Joe Saunders following them. But Scioscia said the team's series in Oakland could change the order of the rotation, depending on how his pitchers feel after their short outings. "There are a few things coming out of this weekend, such as how our starters feel, and it'll give us a little direction for what our roster will be," Scioscia said. Both Scioscia and Weaver, though, said it'll be important for the team to maintain its usual intensity during the three-game series, even though it has no bearing on the playoff picture. "Hopefully we can take these three games seriously," Weaver said. "Momentum is huge. It's a big part of getting into the playoffs." Pitching matchupLAA: RHP Jered Weaver (15-8, 3.84 ERA)
Weaver, enduring a hard-luck stretch, yielded only two earned runs in six innings against the Athletics on Friday night at home but dropped his third straight start for the first time in his career. A leadoff walk in the fifth cost him a run on a two-out single, and another two-out hit delivered the second A's run in the sixth. Weaver gave up six hits and three walks, striking out one. Weaver is 0-1 with a 4.02 ERA in three starts against the A's this season and 2-3, 2.93 in 10 career outings. OAK: LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-6, 5.73 ERA)
Gonzalez shook off his previous two shaky outings to throw 6 1/3 scoreless innings against the high-powered Angels offense on Friday at Angel Stadium to get his sixth win of the season. Gonzalez also struck out seven batters and walked just one. Gonzalez is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in two starts against the Angels this season. Tidbits
Bobby Abreu will reach a milestone in his next start, as it will mark the 12th straight season in which he has played in at least 150 games. Only Willie Mays, Pete Rose, Billy Williams and Cal Ripken have accomplished that feat. ... On Thursday, the Angels announced their Minor League awards for the 2009 season, naming infielder Alexi Amarista as Player of the Year, left-handed pitcher Trevor Reckling as Pitcher of the Year and outfielder Peter Bourjos as Defensive Player of the Year. ... The Angels are 9-7 against the A's this season. Tickets
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• 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.
