Detroit @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2012 ) LA Angels 2, Detroit 5
The Los Angeles Angels provided some fancy footwork on Thursday, one day before the start of their three-game series with the visiting Detroit Tigers. Right-hander Ervin Santana replaced ace Jered Weaver for Friday's series opener after an MRI on the latter's right shoulder revealed tendinitis. The good news for manager Mike Scioscia's club is that Weaver is not expected to be sidelined for long after being on the business end of a line drive from Seattle's Dustin Ackley on Sunday. C.J. Wilson and Zack Greinke will start Saturday and Sunday's games, respectively.
While Detroit trails the first-place Chicago White Sox by one game in the American League Central, it also rests a half-game behind Los Angeles in the congested race for the second wild card. The Angels sit 2 1/2 games in back of wild-card occupants Oakland, Baltimore and New York. Los Angeles, which swept a three-game set from the rival Athletics, had won eight of its last nine before enjoying a day off on Thursday. The Tigers were also spectators on Thursday, having to stew after dropping two of three to struggling Cleveland.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSD (Detroit), FSW (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (15-6, 3.93 ERA) vs. Angels RH Ervin Santana (8-11, 5.32)
Scherzer has been downright dominant during his five-game winning streak. The 28-year-old scattered four hits and struck out nine over eight innings in a 5-1 win over the White Sox on Saturday. Scherzer has yielded just four earned runs and struck out 44 during his winning streak. He allowed one run on four hits in a 5-2 win over the Angels on Aug. 26.
Santana has won four of his last five decisions, but permitted four runs in seven innings in the lone setback to Scherzer and the Tigers on Aug. 26. The 29-year-old, who is 6-3 in his career versus Detroit, also yielded four runs in a no-decision to the Tigers on July 16. Despite his recent hot streak, Santana's ERA is nearly two full runs higher than last year's total.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles' Albert Pujols is 25-for-70 with five homers and 17 RBIs during his 14-game hitting streak. The slugger is just 1-for-5 with a double in his career versus Scherzer.
2. Fellow Angel Torii Hunter is having quite a nice stretch for himself as well. The veteran OF is 17-for-34 with nine RBIs in his last eight contests.
3. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, who is making a case for the Triple Crown, has belted a pair of two-run homers in as many games. Cabrera has also gone deep among his four hits in 13 career at-bats against Santana.