Los Angeles @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 22, 2012 ) Baltimore 3, LA Angels 2

The Baltimore Orioles will be looking to get back on track in the American League East race after losing four of six to fall off the torrid pace being set by division-leading New York. The Los Angeles Angels, meanwhile, began the month with a .500 record but have gone 14-7 in June to creep to within striking distance of first-place Texas. Los Angeles took two of three from the Orioles at home earlier this season and have won seven of the last 10 head-to-head meetings.

Los Angeles, which has ranked among baseball’s best pitching teams all year, has shown considerable improvement offensively since calling up 20-year-old center fielder Mike Trout. The rookie is batting a team-best .338 in 51 games and veteran Albert Pujols has shaken off a terrible April, batting .303 with 16 RBIs in June. The Orioles have been fueled by an offense that ranks third in the major leagues with 93 home runs. CF Adam Jones, who leads the club with 19, is one of four Baltimore hitters with at least 10 round-trippers. The team has also gotten solid starting pitching from Jason Hammel and Wei-Yin Chen, who are a combined 15-5.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles), MASN (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH C.J. Wilson (8-4, 2.44 ERA) vs. Orioles LH Brian Matusz (5-8, 5.00 ERA)

Wilson gave up five runs - three earned - in his last start, coming back to earth after yielding a total of three runs over 35 innings in his previous five trips to the mound. The left-hander has been particularly tough on the road this season, going 5-2 with a 2.13 ERA in nine away starts. Wilson is 2-3 with six saves, five holds and a 5.17 ERA in 19 career outings against Baltimore.

Matusz has lost three starts in a row, all on the road. He yielded 12 runs in just 12 1/3 innings of work, failing to make it through the sixth inning in any of those games. Matusz is 2-3 with a 4.64 ERA at home. In four career starts against the Angels, Matusz is 1-3 with a 6.10 ERA, taking a loss on April 20.

WALK-OFFS:

1. The Angels have torn Matusz apart in the past — the current roster is 31-for-69 (.449) against him, led by Erick Aybar (5-for-11), Howard Kendrick (6-for-12) and OF Vernon Wells (5-for-9, three doubles, homer, three RBIs).

2. Baltimore’s middle infield has hit Wilson well — SS J.J. Hardy is 3-for-7, while 2B Brian Roberts is 5-for-16 with a double and a home run. The rest of the Orioles are a combined 7-for-34 (.206).

3. Los Angeles has won 11 of its last 12 away games and is perfect in Wilson’s last five road starts.