Los Angeles @ Toronto preview
Rogers Centre
Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2011 ) LA Angels 2, Toronto 11
THE STORY: The Toronto Blue Jays made quick work of the Angels' top pitcher Saturday. Now they'll try to do the same to Los Angeles' No. 2 as they host the Angels on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game weekend series. Dan Haren looks for his 13th victory of the season for the Angels. He'll be opposed by Toronto lefthander Brett Cecil.
TV: 1:07 p.m. ET, KCOP (Los Angeles), Rogers Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Dan Haren (12-6, 2.91 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Brett Cecil (4-5, 4.31).
Haren ran into a minor bump in the road last time out, allowing four runs over 6 2/3 innings and settling for a no-decision in a 6-4 win over the Yankees. Prior to that outing, the 30-year-old had allowed only three runs over his previous three starts, a span of 24 2/3 innings. He is 6-2 lifetime versus the Blue Jays despite a 5.40 ERA in 55 innings. Cecil has put together four straight quality starts to solidify his place in Toronto's starting rotation. The 24-year-old deserved a better fate in his last game, allowing only three runs on four hits over seven innings of a 4-1 loss to Oakland. Cecil has made three career starts against the Angels, going 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA over 18 innings.
ABOUT THE ANGELS (65-55): Los Angeles has given catcher Jeff Mathis repeated chances to become the team's No. 1 option, but he has failed at every turn. Now 28 and in his seventh major-league season, Mathis may be having his worst season yet. He went 0-for-1 with a pair of walks in Saturday's loss and is hitting .181 with two homers and 17 RBIs in 199 at-bats. The 2001 supplemental-round pick is a .196 hitter for his career, racking up 346 strikeouts against 25 homers in 1,153 at-bats. The problem is, the Angels aren't exactly rife with options at the position: backup catcher Bobby Wilson is hitting .183.
ABOUT THE BLUE JAYS (60-59): Brett Lawrie's time in the No. 9 hole may be coming to an end soon. The rookie phenom had two hits while batting seventh in Saturday's 11-2 win, his first taste of action outside the bottom of the order. The performance lifted his average to .370 over his first seven games, with two homers and six RBIs. The Blue Jays lineup is hitting a collective .282 against Haren, with six home runs off of him all-time. Edwin Encarnacion has enjoyed the most success, hitting 5-for-11 with a pair of solo homers. Jose Bautista, Adam Lind, Jose Molina and Colby Rasmus have also taken him deep.
FINAL PITCH: Perhaps the Angels are keeping Mathis around as a good-luck charm. Los Angeles is an incredible 72-27 all-time in games when he records at least one RBI.