Los Angeles @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
THE STORY: Nothing is going right for the Florida Marlins this month. One of the more promising young teams in the majors over the first two months is now making a bid for the title of worst young team in the majors after a disastrous few weeks that culminated with the resignation of manager Edwin Rodriguez on Sunday. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are scuffling along under the radar a bit, still trying to figure out exactly how to make a move in the American League West. The Angels will be looking to take advantage of Florida’s struggles when they send Jered Weaver to the mound for the opener of a three-game interleague series at Sun Life Stadium on Monday.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSW, FSFL
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (8-4, 2.06 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Anibal Sanchez (6-1, 3.02 ERA).
After winning six games in April and then going 0-4 in May, Weaver has found his way back to the winning side of things in June. The ace righthander secured his second shutout of the season at Seattle last Tuesday, yielding five hits and striking out six to take the win. Weaver is 8-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 15 career interleague starts.
Sanchez has been one of the few bright spots for Florida lately, though he has little to show for his efforts. The 27-year old righthander outdueled Roy Halladay over seven innings last time out and left with the lead, only to have the bullpen blow up behind him. Sanchez has seven quality starts in his last eight turns and owns a 3-1 career mark with a 4.46 ERA in interleague play.
ABOUT THE ANGELS (35-38): After dropping seven of eight and losing three straight series to begin June, Los Angeles has slowly made its way out of a hole by taking two of three from both Seattle and the New York Mets in the last two sets. Halfway through a 12-game road trip, the Angels can really do some damage the rest of the way with the lowly Marlins and the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers left on the trip. Most of the Angels’ problems have come on the offensive side, where they have averaged less than three runs per game this month. Vernon Wells led the charge on Sunday, homering among three RBIs, and Erick Aybar tripled with the bases loaded to drive in three more in a 7-3 triumph.
ABOUT THE MARLINS (32-40): What a difference a few weeks can make in the outlook of a baseball team. When June started, Florida was considered a challenger for the National League East, or at least the wild card. Three weeks later, the team is in last place and has officially fallen off a cliff with 10 straight losses. Rodriguez's abrupt departure leaves bench coach Brandon Hyde to figure out a way to get the Marlins back on track. The team is beginning a broader search for an interim manager. On the field Hyde did not make much of a difference, presiding over a 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. The loss dropped Florida to 1-18 in June. All-Star shortstop Hanley Ramirez continues to struggle, going 0-for-3 on Sunday with a strikeout to drop his average to .201.
FINAL PITCH: The Marlins are thought to be looking at Hyde and 80-year old Jack McKeon among others as possible interim managers. Rodriguez, who took over as interim manager when Fredi Gonzalez was shown the door last June, finished his tenure 46-46.