Los Angeles @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2011 ) LA Angels 6, Oakland 3
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Angels would like the All-Star version of Jered Weaver to show up against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday, not the replica that has been rocked in three of his last six starts. The Angels trail the Texas Rangers by three games in the American League West and it would behoove Weaver to be in top form with time running out on Los Angeles. Weaver has allowed 21 runs in three of his last half-dozen starts and has allowed one run or less in the other three. Howie Kendrick had two homers and four RBIs as the Angels recorded a 6-3 victory on Tuesday.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, FSW (Los Angeles), CSCA (Oakland).
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (16-7, 2.44 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Rich Harden (4-2, 4.74 ERA)
Weaver has a 3.53 ERA in 11 post All-Star game starts. He has permitted 11 homers in 74 innings since the break after posting a 1.86 ERA and allowing just five homers in his first 19 starts. Weaver received a no-decision in his last outing despite striking out 11 New York Yankees in eight innings and allowing just one run and three hits. He is 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA in three starts against Oakland this season and has a 5-6 career mark with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts. Kurt Suzuki is batting .324 in 37 career at-bats against Weaver.
Harden is 2-0 over his last six starts. He gave up one total run in the two victories and has allowed 17 in the four no-decisions. He struck out 10 in five innings against the Kansas City Royals in his last outing while giving up four runs and eight hits in a no-decision. Harden allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings and wasn’t involved in the decision when he faced the Angels on July 16. He is 6-3 with a 3.77 ERA in 16 career appearances - 15 starts - against Oakland. Vernon Wells is batting .300 with two homers in 20 career at-bats against Harden.
ABOUT THE ANGELS (81-67): Tuesday’s victory was Los Angeles’ second in eight games in Oakland this season. Kendrick’s multi-homer game was the fourth of his career. He has a career-best 18 homers. Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis also had two hits. Aybar is batting .421 in September. Iztruis has multiple hits in three of his last four starts but is just 3-for-22 in his career against Harden. Torii Hunter (2-for-14) also has struggled against Harden. Peter Bourjos had his 16th bunt single of the season and then notched his 20th stolen base. Rookie Jordan Walden posted his 30th save. Mark Trumbo didn’t play Tuesday – he’s batting .111 in 45 at-bats against Oakland.
ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (67-81): Josh Willingham had two RBIs Tuesday and has driven in six runs in the series. He is 5-for-7 with a homer in the two games. First baseman Brandon Allen had a hit Tuesday to raise his average to .100 in 40 September at-bats. An MRI exam on Coco Crisp’s injured right ankle was negative and Crisp is expected back prior to the end of the season. He has missed four straight games. Closer Andrew Bailey underwent X-rays after being hit in the temple by a batting-practice liner on Monday and those results also were negative.
FINAL PITCH: The Angels are 55-37 in starts by Weaver, Dan Haren and Ervin Santana and just 26-30 when anyone else starts.