By Brian Waller, AngelsWin.com Columnist
Angels/Orioles Preview:
The Angels continue to roll! I know I've opened up my last three series previews with that sentence but I'm superstitious and I'm not going to quit doing it until the team loses a series! After taking two out of three games yet again from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Halos begin a tough three city, 9 game road trip where they will face the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians.
The Baltimore Orioles come in to the series a surprising 41-31; even more surprising is the fact they are only 3 games back from the AL East leading New York Yankees. The O's are 5-5 in their last 10 games and are 21-15 at home. The Orioles rank 11th in the AL in batting (.246), 13th in fielding (63 errors) and 5th in pitching (3.67 ERA).
The player that will most likely cause the most headaches for the Halos during this brief 2-game series is Outfielder Adam Jones. Jones is having a career year and is on pace to set new career highs in home runs, RBI's and stolen bases.
Wednesday's game should be outstanding. Jered Weaver hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 14 innings and Justin Hammel has allowed an earned run in his last 17...something has gotta give.
Player(s) to Watch:
The Angels continue to roll! I know I've opened up my last three series previews with that sentence but I'm superstitious and I'm not going to quit doing it until the team loses a series! After taking two out of three games yet again from the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Halos begin a tough three city, 9 game road trip where they will face the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians.
The Baltimore Orioles come in to the series a surprising 41-31; even more surprising is the fact they are only 3 games back from the AL East leading New York Yankees. The O's are 5-5 in their last 10 games and are 21-15 at home. The Orioles rank 11th in the AL in batting (.246), 13th in fielding (63 errors) and 5th in pitching (3.67 ERA).
The player that will most likely cause the most headaches for the Halos during this brief 2-game series is Outfielder Adam Jones. Jones is having a career year and is on pace to set new career highs in home runs, RBI's and stolen bases.
Wednesday's game should be outstanding. Jered Weaver hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 14 innings and Justin Hammel has allowed an earned run in his last 17...something has gotta give.
Player(s) to Watch:
C.J. Wilson continues to show he is worth every penny Arte Moreno is paying him. Wilson is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career and he looks to continue his success Tuesday night against the O's. Wilson has a career record of 2-3 with a 5.17 ERA against the Orioles. Fortunately those three losses all came in Arlington. At Camden Yards, Wilson is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA. Wilson has 8 wins already in 2012 with a sub. 3.00 ERA, one has to think that a win against Tuesday night would help secure a spot on the All Star team for the lefty.
Jered Weaver is quietly on pace to match and possibly surpass his numbers from his breakout 2012 season. Despite missing time on the DL due to a back injury, Weaver still has a 7-1 record with a sparkling 2.40 ERA. Even more impressive than his ERA is his WHIP; which stands at a league leading 0.91. Unfortunately, Camden Yards hasn't been too kind to Weaver in the past. In two career starts there, the right-hander is 1-1 with a 9.64 ERA. In his career Weaver is 4-3 with a 3.42 ERA against the O's. If you are wondering how Weaver has fared against some of the O's sluggers take a look below:
Jered Weaver vs. Adam Jones
3-for-9 (.333 avg.), 0 HR, 0 RBI's and a .956 OPS
Jered Weaver vs. Matt Wieters
2-for-7 (.286 avg.), 1 HR, 4 RBI's and a .964 OPS
Jered Weaver vs. Chris Davis
5-for-22 (.227 avg.), 0 HR, 3 RBI's and a .500 OPS
Torii Hunter should enjoy his trip to Baltimore this week, the veteran outfielder has always hit well at Camden Yards. In his career Hunter has played 57 games there and has a .303 batting average with 13 home runs and 43 RBI's.
Jered Weaver is quietly on pace to match and possibly surpass his numbers from his breakout 2012 season. Despite missing time on the DL due to a back injury, Weaver still has a 7-1 record with a sparkling 2.40 ERA. Even more impressive than his ERA is his WHIP; which stands at a league leading 0.91. Unfortunately, Camden Yards hasn't been too kind to Weaver in the past. In two career starts there, the right-hander is 1-1 with a 9.64 ERA. In his career Weaver is 4-3 with a 3.42 ERA against the O's. If you are wondering how Weaver has fared against some of the O's sluggers take a look below:
Jered Weaver vs. Adam Jones
3-for-9 (.333 avg.), 0 HR, 0 RBI's and a .956 OPS
Jered Weaver vs. Matt Wieters
2-for-7 (.286 avg.), 1 HR, 4 RBI's and a .964 OPS
Jered Weaver vs. Chris Davis
5-for-22 (.227 avg.), 0 HR, 3 RBI's and a .500 OPS
Torii Hunter should enjoy his trip to Baltimore this week, the veteran outfielder has always hit well at Camden Yards. In his career Hunter has played 57 games there and has a .303 batting average with 13 home runs and 43 RBI's.
Pitching Match-ups:
6/26 – C.J. Wilson (8-4, 2.44 ERA) vs. Brian Matusz (5-8, 5.00 ERA)
Match-up Notes - Wilson has won his last 6 decisions and has only allowed 1 run or less in 5 of those starts. Matusz has lost his last 3 starts. You can expect lost of base runners when Matusz is on the mound, he has a 1.61 WHIP and has averaged 3.2 walks his last 5 outings.
Match-up Notes - Wilson has won his last 6 decisions and has only allowed 1 run or less in 5 of those starts. Matusz has lost his last 3 starts. You can expect lost of base runners when Matusz is on the mound, he has a 1.61 WHIP and has averaged 3.2 walks his last 5 outings.
6/27 – Jered Weaver (7-1, 2.40 ERA) vs. Jason Hammel (8-2, 2.61 ERA)
Match-up Notes - Weaver beat the Orioles earlier this season pitching a complete game in which he allowed 3 ER off of 5 hits while striking out 5 and walking none. In his last two outings Hammel is 2-0 and combined to throw 17 shutout innings while striking out 18 and only walking 2.
Match-up Notes - Weaver beat the Orioles earlier this season pitching a complete game in which he allowed 3 ER off of 5 hits while striking out 5 and walking none. In his last two outings Hammel is 2-0 and combined to throw 17 shutout innings while striking out 18 and only walking 2.
Weather:
6/26 – Sunny and windy with a high of 84 degrees
6/27 – Sunny with a high of 91 degrees
6/27 – Sunny with a high of 91 degrees
Game Times/Channels/Promotions:
6/26 – 4:05 p.m. / FSW
6/27 – 4:05 p.m. / FSW
6/27 – 4:05 p.m. / FSW
Angels’ Team Statistics / League Rank (as of 6/26/12)
Offense
Avg.: .261 / 5th
OBP: .319 / 7th
SLG: .405 / 8th
OPS: .725 / 6th
Hits: 643 / 5th
OBP: .319 / 7th
SLG: .405 / 8th
OPS: .725 / 6th
Hits: 643 / 5th
HR: 73 / 7th
RBI’s: 289 / 9th
R: 301 / 11th
BB: 201 / 13th
SO: 481 / 11th
SB: 55 / 4th
Pitching
W: 40 / 4th
ERA: 3.42 / 1st
SV: 17 / 10th
SV: 17 / 10th
SVO: 26 / 8th
IP: 649.1 / 9th
HR: 59/ 13th
BB: 231 / 5th
SO: 527 / 8th
Avg.: .238 / 2nd
WHIP: 1.24 / 3rd
Fielding
FPCT: .984 / 8th
E: 44 / 7th