Los Angeles @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( May 26, 2011 ) Oakland 4, LA Angels 3
THE STORY: Dan Haren and the Los Angeles Angels are streaking right now. Haren has won four in a row while the Angels have emerged victorious in 19 of their last 25 contests to move to within 1 1/2 games of the American League West-leading Texas Rangers. Haren and the Angels will look to continue their good fortune on Friday when they pay a visit to Oakland to face the Athletics in the opener of a four-game set. For its part, Oakland has dropped 13 of its last 18 to plummet into the basement of the division.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSW, CSCA
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Dan Haren (10-5, 2.61 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Brandon McCarthy (1-5, 3.66 ERA)
Haren secured his fourth consecutive win with a dominating effort against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. The 29-year-old Haren permitted two runs on five hits and struck out eight before being lifted just one out prior to recording his third complete game of the season. Haren is 2-1 in his career against the Athletics, but struggled the last time he faced his former team. He yielded five runs and seven hits in a 6-1 loss on May 24.
Try as he might, McCarthy is having difficulty righting the ship. Winless since April 10, the 28-year-old California native permitted five runs on nine hits in six innings in an eventual 7-6 loss to the Rangers on Saturday. McCarthy has dropped both career starts against the Angels - including a woeful effort on April 26. He allowed a season-high seven runs on a career-high 14 hits in 5 1/3 innings in that contest.
ABOUT THE ANGELS (50-42): Torii Hunter has nine hits - including a pair of homers - in his last five games. He is 5-for-8 with two doubles and a homer in his career against McCarthy. All-Star Howie Kendrick saw his career-high 18-game hitting streak come to an end in a 4-2 victory over Seattle on Sunday. In that contest, Mark Trumbo belted his third homer in as many days with a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Trumbo now leads all rookies with 17 homers, one ahead of Danny Espinosa of the Washington Nationals. Outfielder Peter Bourjos has missed three games with a hamstring injury, but expects to return to action at some point during this weekend series.
ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (39-53): Josh Willingham will bat third and veteran designated hitter Hideki Matsui will be fourth in an attempt to ignite a stagnant offense. Oakland is second to last in the majors in runs scored (3.4 per game). Matsui is mired in an 0-for-15 skid and is still searching for his 500th professional home run - combining his totals in North America and Japan. Matsui, who hasn't homered since June 16, is just 3-for-17 in his career against Haren. Oakland lefthander Brett Anderson underwent Tommy John surgery and will be sidelined for the next 12-18 months. The 23-year-old Anderson joins fellow Athletics hurlers Andrew Bailey, Grant Balfour, Joey Devine and Fautino De Los Santos who have had the surgery.
FINAL PITCH: Saturday offers an afternoon doubleheader which was scheduled prior to the season. The last time there was a regularly scheduled doubleheader in the majors was 2003.