Tampa Bay @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 3, LA Angels 0
The Los Angeles Angels attempt to capture their third straight series Sunday when they unveil their newest acquisition in the rubber game of their three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Los Angeles dropped to third in the American League West, one-half game behind Oakland and four behind division-leading Texas, with Saturday's 3-0 loss. The Angels will try to get back in the win column behind former AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke, who was obtained from Milwaukee on Friday.
The Angels managed only five hits in losing to the Rays for the seventh time in eight meetings. They fell to 5-3 on their nine-game homestand, while the Rays improved to 3-2 on their nine-game road trip. Tampa Bay pulled into a tie with Baltimore for second in the AL East and trails Los Angeles by three games for the league's second wild-card spot.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, Sun Sports (Tampa Bay), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays RH Jeremy Hellickson (5-6, 3.42 ERA) vs. Angels RH Zack Greinke (NR)
Hellickson posted his first win in 10 starts Tuesday at Baltimore, limiting the Orioles to one run and three hits over 6 1/3 innings. The 2011 AL Rookie of the Year, who won his first four decisions of the season, has allowed more than three earned runs only twice in 18 outings. Hellickson lost his first career start against the Angels before recording a victory April 25, when he yielded one run and five hits in six frames.
Greinke makes his return to the AL after spending the last 1 1/2 years with Milwaukee. The 28-year-old went 9-3 with a 3.44 ERA in 21 starts for the woeful Brewers this season after posting a 16-6 record in 2011. Greinke, who has gone 0-1 in five outings since defeating Cincinnati on June 27, is only 2-4 despite owning a 3.32 ERA in 12 career meetings - nine starts - against Tampa Bay.
WALK-OFFS
1. Tampa Bay's streak of six games without an error ended Saturday as 3B Ryan Roberts misplayed a grounder in the fifth inning.
2. Rays 3B Evan Longoria did not play for Triple-A Durham on Saturday after going 0-for-6 as the designated hitter in two games during his rehab assignment.
3. Angels RHP Ervin Santana will remain in the rotation for now despite his recent struggles as he is slated to start at Texas on Monday. Santana has failed to make it through the second inning in two of his last three outings.