Winning streaks are so much fun while they are happening, aren’t they? I mean, the Angels could have not averaged a mere 3.8 runs per game during their streak, that would have lowered my antacid bill. But a win is a win is a win, so, who am I to complain. All told, the Angels are 3-0-1 in their last four series dating back to when they hosted the Mariners at the Big A two weeks ago, and they are winners in eight of their last 12 matchups. Not bad. Just score some more runs, please.
The Blue Jays on the other hand are trending in the opposite direction. They are currently struggling through a five-game losing streak, and are coming home after being swept by the Astros. Thanks for nothing, Toronto.
With the Angels escaping the oppressing humidity here on the east coast (No joke, it’s an energy sapper), they will get a chance to start a new streak today as they head north of the border for a four-game set against the Toronto Blue Jays. This will be their first taste of the new surface being used at Rogers Centre. Hopefully there are no mishaps. I really hate artificial turf, even if it is really good looking synthetic grass.
Game 1: C.J. Wilson vs. Aaron Sanchez
You guys remember that one guy who used to pitch for the Texas Rangers, but then signed with the Angels and became not as good as he was with the Rangers? Yeah, he’s on the hill tonight for the opening game of this four-game series, and it turns out, he’s still not too shabby as a pitcher. His walk rate is down to 2.06 BB/9, and his ERA is currently sitting at a very nifty 2.63. In seven starts this year he has allowed more than two runs in a game exactly one time. And that, of course, is simply wonderful. Not as wonderful as his hair, but pretty wonderful.
Aaron Sanchez on the other hand has allowed two or fewer runs in only three of his seven starts this season. And in his last start against the Orioles he got touched up for five runs in 5.2 innings. The key for the Angels against Sanchez will be patience. Aaron is averaging a robust 6.87 walks per nine innings pitched. Presumably because he went to C.J. Wilson’s Pitching Made Easy camp over the winter. Sucker.
Game 2: Hector Santiago vs. Drew Hutchison
Remember how last season Santiago couldn’t buy himself a win? Turns out, he is also not too bad of a pitcher. His 2.41 ERA is second best among Angels starters, trailing only Garrett Richards. And his 8.56 K/9 is currently a career best. There is one teeny tiny problem with Hector though, and that is his issue with getting the third out of an inning. All of the seven hits that Hector allowed to the Rockies last week came when there were two outs. The Blue Jays aren’t exactly setting the world on fire right now, but it’s not as though the Rockies looked like World Series contenders when they came to Anaheim. Hector has pitched well so far this season, but he needs to continue progressing with his efficiency.
Aaron Sanchez isn’t having a great season, and neither is Drew Hutchison. The young Hutchison is expected to be an important cog in the Blue Jays rotation, but his 6.17 ERA so far this season says otherwise. He held the Astros to two runs over six innings in his last start, but over his last three starts he is carrying a 5.28 ERA.
Game 3: Jered Weaver vs. R.A. Dickey
It looks like our beloved ace, Jered Weaver, may have actually turned the corner on this season. But his next start in Toronto will be a big test for Weave. So far this season he is sporting his lowest flyball rate of his career at 41.7%, likewise, his groundball rate is at its highest ever at 37.7%. These two numbers will be very important for Jered when he steps onto the mound at the launching pad that is the Rogers Centre. Please don’t let those last two starts be a fluke, Jered.
Man, R.A. Dickey. He was so good with the Mets. He even won himself a Cy Young when he won a bunch of games and had a really good story to go along with it. (Clayton Kershaw should have won. Just sayin’.) Turns out, knuckleballs don’t do so well in domes. His ERA in New York was a wonderful 2.95. Since being traded north to the Blue Jays though, his ERA is back around his career average at 4.15. And this year hasn’t been any better with a 5.76 mark through eight starts.
Game 4: Matt Shoemaker vs. Marco Estrada
Will the real Matt Shoemaker please stand up? No, seriously, I don’t know what to expect from start to start with the Angels token lumberjack. His start against the Orioles was very good and very encouraging, but his 5.61 ERA says otherwise, and his 5.63 FIP says that it isn’t a bunch of bad luck that has led to his ineffectiveness this season. When Shoemaker gets hit this season, he gets hit hard. Maybe his abortion of a start against Houston was the wake up call that he needed. Or maybe his smoke and mirrors don’t work anymore. From start to start, it’s hard to tell.
Estrada has been OK since joining the Blue Jays rotation, but high pitch counts keep him from getting past the fifth inning. In his last start he walked four in five innings. He also struck out eight. As a starter, Estrada has a 5.52 ERA this season, but a sample size of 14.2 innings is hardly big enough to warrant any kind of educated as to what we should expect to see from Estrada on Thursday. Of course, his career 4.20 ERA and 4.16 FIP say that maybe the Angels shouldn’t be too worried.
A wake up call for the Angels bats?
Maybe. Each Blue Jays starter that the Angels will be facing has an ERA above 5.00 as a starter this season. The Angels offense is in desperate need of weak pitching. On the other hand, all four of them are also right handed. That, of course, means a whole heap of Matt Joyce and Marc Krauss this week. Boy, am I excited about that. Can’t you tell? Jon Gibbons can tell.
The best case scenario for this series is the Angels roll through Toronto, sweep away the Blue Jays, find their bats and make it back into the US without anyone needing to be unnecessarily checked by customs.
Worst case scenario: the Angels eek out a couple of games, continue to use miniature souvenir bats and Erick Aybar misses the first game in Boston because customs doesn’t believe that he isn’t hiding something in the tobacco that he is chewing. Just give them the tobacco, Erick. It’s for your own good.
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