Los Angeles @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 30, 2014 ) LA Angels 0, Chi. White Sox 0
Heavy rain prevented Los Angeles from continuing its recent hot stretch on Monday so now the Angels attempt to keep it going when they play a doubleheader against the host Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. Los Angeles has won seven of its last nine games as it attempts to narrow the gap on the American League West-leading Oakland Athletics. The White Sox have won three straight games as they begin a six-game homestand but are just 3-9 against AL West squads this season.
White Sox slugger Jose Abreu is on a tear with six homers and 13 RBIs during a 14-game hitting streak. The Cuban import has a share of the major-league homer lead with 25 but struggled against Angels’ pitching earlier this season, going 1-for-12 with six strikeouts in a three-game set. Los Angeles acquired Jason Grilli from Pittsburgh to shore up the bullpen and he took the loss against Kansas City on Sunday due to an unearned run prompted by Howie Kendrick’s muff of a throw on a double-play ball.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), CSN-Plus (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (8-6, 3.33 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Scott Carroll (2-4, 4.76 ERA)
Weaver improved to 8-2 in 11 career starts against Chicago when he struck out nine in a victory on June 6. He allowed two runs and five hits as his career ERA against the White Sox rose to 1.70. Weaver defeated Minnesota in his last turn, when he gave up one run and eight hits in seven innings.
Carroll returned to the rotation and lost to Toronto on Thursday, when he gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings. He had fared well in six consecutive relief appearances, allowing four runs in 19 2/3 innings. Carroll held the Angels to one run and two hits in 4 1/3 innings of relief on June 6.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels RF Kole Calhoun is batting .346 with four homers and 13 RBIs in June.
2. Chicago DH Adam Dunn went 4-for-9 with two homers in a three-game set against the Angels earlier this month, and is 4-for-9 with three walks over the last three games.
3. Los Angeles 1B Albert Pujols (groin) will likely serve as the DH in at least one of Tuesday’s games.
PREDICTION: White Sox 4, Angels 3