Did you know....
That Kansas City has been a Royal pain in the ass for the Angels over the last couple seasons. The club matched its win total vs. KC from a season ago (1-6)…Royals claimed 2015 season series 6-1 (LAA was 0-3 at home), Angels second-fewest wins in a season series vs. KC. The Angels have won 15 of last 20 season series vs. Royals. From 1976-86, either the Angels ('79, '82, '86) or Royals won 10 of 11 A.L. West titles, a significant rivalry in the division for a decade. See how the Angels fair over the next two contests at Online MLB lines.
Tonight's starting pitcher, Jered Weaver in 14 career regular season starts against Kansas City, is 7-6 with a 2.77 ERA (87.2 IP – 27 ER). In two starts vs. Royals last season, went 0-2 with a 6.97 ERA (10.1 IP – 8 ER). In six prior starts against the Royals from 2008-12 was 5-0 with a 0.87 ERA (41.1 IP – 4 ER). Did not factor in decision in 2014 ALDS Game 1 start vs. KC after tossing seven innings and allowing two runs on three hits in Game 1 of the ALDS. Jered Weaver recorded the 1500th strikeout of his career on April 16 at Minnesota (Miguel Sano swinging in 3rd inning). Became third player to record 1500 strikeouts in an Angels uniform, joining Nolan Ryan and Chuck Finley. Is one of six active pitchers to record 1500 strikeouts while pitching exclusively for one franchise in their career (Matt Cain, Felix Hernandez, Clayton Kershaw, Tim Lincecum and Justin Verlander).
Last night marked the 26th time that Albert Pujols and Mike Trout have homered in same game and 52nd career multi-HR game for Pujols, 10th time as an Angel. Pujols is one of two players to hit home runs 564 and 565 in the same game, the other is Babe Ruth. Pujols is 4 for 8 with three HRs in his last two games following a career-high 0-for-26 skid. ESPN Stats and Info
Pujols is hitting .319 (98/307) with 22 HRs and 67 RBI in 80 career games vs. Royals. Trout has hit safely in 11 straight games vs. KC (.459) with six homers, 11 RBI and 13 runs…He is batting .361 (35/97) with 24 runs, 8 HRs and 16 RBI in 27 career games vs. Royals. .361 clip marks his best vs. any A.L. team.
Just three players in Major League history have started their career with 25+ HR and 100+ runs scored in each of their first four MLB seasons:
Joe DiMaggio (1936-39)
Albert Pujols (2001-04)
Mike Trout (2012-15)
Trout is 10 for 20 with three homers during current six-game hit streak…Has recorded at least one hit in nine of last 11 games, batting .372 (16/43) with three home runs, two doubles, and seven runs. Oh yeah, if you haven't listened to the song everyone is buzzing about, check out "A Fish Like This" a song dedicated to Mike Trout's greatness. Our own founder's daughter, Trinity Richter, sings the bridge on the song.
Oh yeah.. Trout has scored 457 runs over the last four years (2012-15), no other player has more than 384 in the span.
The Angels are second in Starting Pitching ERA in the American League:
White Sox 2.88 (121.2 IP – 39 ER)
Angels 3.37 (115 IP – 43 ER)
Rangers 3.40 (119 IP – 45 ER)
Royals 3.49 (108.1 IP – 42 ER)
Offensive Woes: 63 runs are Angels’ fewest after 20 games since DH added in 1973. Offense has been limited to four runs or less in 16 of 20 games (LAA has scored more than five runs twice in 20 games). Club has plated 63 runs (fewest in MLB) in the 20 games (3.1 per). Halos have second-fewest HRs (16) in A.L. and .334 team SLG pct. ranks last in A.L. (29th in MLB).
Mike Scioscia is the longest tenured manager in the Majors (17th season) and the only active manager to collect over 1,000 victories with a single club…His 17 years with the Angels are tied with Sparky Anderson (17 straight years with Detroit, 1979-95) for second longest tenure with an A.L. team (trailing only Connie Mack’s 50 seasons with Philadelphia A’s). Scioscia’s current .546 (1,425-1187) winning percentage and 1,425 wins are both tops in franchise history…He ranks 24th on the all-time win list (56 victories behind Earl Weaver for 23rd (1,481).
On Saturday, Huston Street recorded career save #320 to pass Todd Jones for 18th all-time. Jose Mesa sits 17th with 321.