Los Angeles @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2011 ) LA Angels 6, Baltimore 1
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Angels are not quite as sizzling as the AL West-leading Texas Rangers, but have managed to keep pace thanks to a three-game winning streak. The Angels remain three games behind Texas and get to continue picking on the lowly Baltimore Orioles as the teams continue their three-game set at Camden Yards on Saturday. Baltimore, which dropped Friday's opener 6-1, has won just three of its last 11 games.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West, MASN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Joel Pineiro (5-4, 4.58 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Brad Bergesen (1-6, 5.76 ERA)
Pineiro is coming off his worst start of the season, when he gave up eight runs – seven earned – while retiring just one batter Sunday in Oakland. He is 3-4 with a 5.27 ERA in 11 career appearances against Baltimore, including 10 starts. Bergesen, who is 0-4 with a 8.48 ERA in six home starts, has lost eight of his last nine decisions as a starter dating back to Sept. 28, 2010. The Orioles are 1-17 in games when Bergesen has appeared. Bergesen made his only career start against the Angels last August and gave up one earned run over eight innings.
ABOUT THE ORIOLES (39-57): Despite his best efforts to play through the pain, outfielder Luke Scott is likely headed to the disabled list after experiencing more discomfort in his right shoulder following Friday’s game. Manager Buck Showalter said Scott faces the decision of trying to rehab his shoulder or having surgery. Either way, Scott is unlikely to return this season. Lefthander Zach Britton won five of his first six starts before his struggles landed him in the minors, and could be on the verge of rejoining the Orioles. Showalter said Britton is being considered to start during the July 30 doubleheader against the Yankees. Reliever Kevin Gregg gave up a grand slam to Vernon Wells in the ninth inning Friday in his first game back after serving a three-game suspension for his involvement in the benches-clearing brawl with the Red Sox on July 8. Vladimir Guerrero (fractured right hand) is hoping to swing the bat for the first time this weekend, but it won’t be against live pitching.
ABOUT THE ANGELS (54-46): The Angels activated center fielder Peter Bourjos (hamstring) from the 15-day disabled list Friday. That wasn’t a big surprise. What caught many people off guard, however, was the Angels’ decision to option infielder Alexi Amarista to Triple-A Salt Lake instead of top prospect Mike Trout. After a rough start, Trout has shown improvement this week. He had his first multi-hit game Friday and scored twice, but the Angels have always said they’d prefer to see Trout playing everyday. It doesn’t appear that will happen with the current outfield of Wells, Torii Hunter and Bourjos, so it’ll be interesting to see how manager Mike Scioscia works Trout into the lineup. Amarista was hitting .146 over 48 at-bats. Bourjos, who is expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday, returns with a .272 batting average, 17 RBIs and 11 stolen bases.
FINAL PITCH: The Orioles are 13-38 in their last 51 games against teams with a winning record, and are the only AL East team below .500.