Los Angeles @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2010 ) LA Angels 4, Detroit 2
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim finally found a way to win on their current road trip. They just had to get out of Baltimore.
After taking the series opener, the Angels look to win a second straight away from home when they meet the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
Los Angeles was swept out of Baltimore, losing three games to the lowly Orioles, before coming to Detroit. With the Rangers continuing to rack up wins and the wild card likely going to an AL East representative, the Angels couldn't afford another loss.
Los Angeles posted a 4-2 victory over Detroit on Friday as the Angels scored two runs in each of the first two innings and then held on as Jered Weaver and the bullpen kept the Tigers in check.
The Angels are just 2-5 against the Tigers this season and will need Scott Kazmir (7-9, 6.92 ERA) to turn things around dramatically.
Kazmir, who has been on the disabled list since July 11 with left shoulder fatigue, has lost his last four starts. Kazmir threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and reported no problems. He has not pitched since allowing a club-record 13 runs at the Oakland Athletics on July 10.
Detroit, which has lost four of its last five games, will counter with Jeremy Bonderman (6-6, 4.84).
Bonderman is 2-0 in his last four starts and he was the winning pitcher Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox. Bonderman allowed one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings against Chicago.
Like the Angels in the AL West, the Tigers are having trouble keeping pace with the leaders in the AL Central. Chicago is nine games ahead of Detroit and the Tigers also have to worry about moving past the Twins, who are just 1 1/2 games out of the top spot.
A loser of three straight, Detroit is 2-8 in its last 10 and 1-5 this month. Looking ahead at the schedule doesn't offer many clues as when - or even if - Detroit can turn things around. A visit from the Tampa Bay Rays looms on the horizon, as well as road series at Chicago and the New York Yankees on tap.
Much of Detroit's recent slide can be traced to injuries as Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen are sidelined and Brandon Inge has just returned from a rehab start in the minor league.
Despite the lack of success of late, Detroit owner Mike Ilitch said that general manager Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland will be brought back for next season.