Los Angeles @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Jul 17, 2011 ) LA Angels 1, Oakland 9
THE STORY: The Angels have struggled against the Oakland Athletics, part of why Los Angeles trails the first-place Texas Rangers by 2 1/2 games in the American League West entering Monday’s opener of a three-game set in Oakland. The Athletics are 8-5 against the Angels and have won 11 of their last 16 home games against Los Angeles. The Angels play six of their remaining 16 games against Oakland as they attempt to chase down the Rangers, starting against a lefty who's had their number this season in Gio Gonzalez.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSW (Los Angeles), CSCA (Oakland).
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Joel Pineiro (6-6, 5.11) vs. Athletics LH Gio Gonzalez (12-12, 3.43).
Pineiro stymied Minnesota over seven innings in his last outing to win for the first time since July 9. Pineiro gave up one run and five hits against the Twins. He didn’t make it out of the first inning when he lost to Gonzalez and the Athletics on July 17, giving up eight runs (seven earned) in one-third of an inning. He gave up four hits and walked four. Pineiro is 0-2 with a 9.22 ERA in three starts against Oakland this season and 9-10 in his career with a 4.61 ERA in 28 appearances (23 starts). Gonzalez was hit hard by Kansas City in his last outing after winning his previous three starts. He gave up seven runs (six earned) and 10 hits in five innings while taking the loss. Gonzalez is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts against Los Angeles this season. He has fanned 20 and allowed just 13 hits in 19 innings. He is 5-2 with a 2.72 ERA in eight career starts against the Angels. Torii Hunter is just 2-for-20 against Gonzalez. David DeJesus is batting .371 in 35 career at-bats against Pineiro.
ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (66-81): Oakland was officially eliminated from playoff contention with Sunday’s 8-1 loss to Texas. Athletics’ hitters fanned 13 times. Center fielder Coco Crisp has missed the last two games with an ankle injury and is unlikely to face the Angels. Rookie second baseman Jemile Weeks is batting .563 in 16 at-bats against the Angels. Weeks was given a day off Sunday despite going 11-for-19 the previous four games. He is batting .306 with 21 stolen bases in 82 games. Adam Rosales started in Weeks’ place and went 0-for-3 to extend his hitless streak to 31 at-bats. Oakland made two errors Sunday to raise its AL-leading total to 117.
ABOUT THE ANGELS (80-66): Los Angeles begins a 10-game road trip that includes three games in Baltimore and four in Toronto. The Angels are 7-3 in September after losing 6-5 to the New York Yankees on Sunday. A dropped fly ball by defensive whiz Peter Bourjos helped the Angels let the game get away. Bourjos homered earlier in the contest. Howie Kendrick also homered and Erick Aybar (.419 average in September) continued his hot hitting with four singles. Bobby Abreu is 1-for-16 in his career against Gonzalez and hasn’t homered off a left-hander this season.
FINAL PITCH: Abreu stole two bases against the Yankees Sunday for his 13th consecutive 20-steal season. The streak is the longest since Rickey Henderson stole 20 or more in 23 straight seasons (1979-2001).