The Los Angeles Angels will finish out their 10-game road trip with a four-game set against the Detroit Tigers beginning July 28 through July 31. The Angels are coming into Detroit after celebrating their first no-hitter since 1990 and first solo no-hitter since 1984.
Erick Aybar has been solid in the field and in the batter’s box this season.
photo by: ShawnKball Wikimedia Commons
Ervin Santana’s(notes) no-hit performance shocked outsiders but the Los Angeles Angels fans and media following this team have watched Santana develop into one of the most consistent pitchers on the staff. Now the Angels must get over their celebratory hangover and focus on their four games with the Tigers.
The first game of the series, July 27, will feature a battle between Joel Pineiro(notes) (5-5) and Brad Penny(notes) (7-7). Both pitchers have been inconsistent this season and this game can go either way. Penny has given up an average of just under four runs in the last three games, and Pineiro has yielded just over four runs in his last three.
Brad Penny won his last outing against the Angels but gave up four runs on the way to the victory. Pineiro held the Tigers to one run in his win over the Tigers. Final verdict: The Angels will win this game behind a strong performance by Pineiro.
Tyler Chatwood(notes) (6-6) will face the Tigers’ Rick Porcello(notes) (10-6) on July 29. Chatwood pitched one of his toughest games of the year against the Tigers, allowing nine base-runners and no earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, but he didn’t get the win.
Rick Porcello has not faced the Angels this season but he has won his last four outings and has yielded slightly less than three runs a game in those four wins. Final verdict: The Tigers have the hot pitcher which makes the Tigers the winners in this one.
Dan Haren(notes) (10-6) matches up with Duane Below(notes) (0-1) for the Saturday, July 30 game. Haren has been all over the board this year and he is coming off a brutal no-decision game against the Cleveland Indians, who came from behind to beat the Angels on July 25. Haren beat the Tigers with a two-hit shutout in their last game.
Below has started twice for the Tigers this season and has given up five runs in just over nine innings. Final verdict: Haren is a tough pitcher to predict this season but going off his last performance against the Tigers, he has the edge and the Angels will win.
The series finale is another pitcher’s duel for Jered Weaver(notes) (14-4) as he hooks up with Tigers pitching ace Justin Verlander(notes) (14-5). Verlander lost in a pitcher’s duel the last time he faced the Angels on July 5 when Haren pitched his two-hitter. Verlander gave up one run in the loss, going 7 2/3 innings.
Jered Weaver’s season is flawless if we throw out the month of May. Weaver has won his last five outings and has yielded only seven runs in seven games heading into this game. Final verdict: Expect a 1-0 game and it is a toss-up since Verlander is pitching at home.
If the Angels can split this series with the Tigers it will be a good road trip, and if they can win three of four games in this series they can call this 10-game road trip a rousing success.
*Todd Jacobs is a native Anaheim resident and longtime Los Angeles Angels fan. Follow Todd on Twitter @LVIIToddJacobs.
Sources:
Yahoo! Sports Los Angeles Angels stats and news.
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