The Angels not only extended their winning streak to four Monday night, they also snapped a four-game losing skid at Dodger Stadium. Mike Trout and Albert Pujols led the way, driving in five of the team’s seven runs on the evening. The offense has now scored 36 runs over the last five games, which is either the best or worst position to be in going into a Clayton Kershaw start.
Run Expectancy Rundown
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1ryb256dQ04qEN0W9U8IM0KJNwlreD69fvs92D6UCLcE/pubchart” query=”oid=1976391661&format=interactive” width=”623″ height=”389″ /]When your 1-4 hitters combine to go 8-for-17 with three walks, you’re gonna get some runs. It was a night of firsts for the Angels offense: Trout hit a first-pitch curveball for the first time ever, connecting for a two-run single; Pujols notched his first three-hit game of 2016, driving in three; and Gregorio Petit tallied his first RBI as a Halo.
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1ryb256dQ04qEN0W9U8IM0KJNwlreD69fvs92D6UCLcE/pubchart” query=”oid=1154832181&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”341″ /]Trayce Thompson got a rare start against a RHP and demonstrated that he should maybe be more than a platoon player, depositing two absolute moonshots into the bleacher seats. Why he doesn’t start every day over Carl Crawford is a mystery. Another youngster, Corey Seager, extended his hit streak to seven with his third consecutive multi-hit game.
Starting Pitcher Scores
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Kenta Maeda had his worst outing as a Dodger on Monday, lasting only four innings (73 pitches) while allowing four runs on five hits. Not sure why LA thought it necessary to pinch-hit for him in the fourth, especially considering he already had an RBI single, but OK. Maybe he’s hurt?
Bullpen Battle
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1ryb256dQ04qEN0W9U8IM0KJNwlreD69fvs92D6UCLcE/pubchart” query=”oid=1141913419&format=interactive” width=”620″ height=”315″ /]Mike Morin had a 1.84 ERA two appearances ago. It is now 5.17. Think he might need a few nights off. Jose Alvarez also gave up a run, (thankfully) ending his streak of allowing runs in threes. Fernando Salas closed the game with a 1-2-3 ninth, earning his second save in the last week.
Pedro Baez is the human incarnation of a sloth. I have never seen a slower worker on the mound, and I’ve seen Joel Peralta pitch a bunch of times. I hope the Angels knock Baez around for more than three runs next time and get him demoted so that Dodgers fans don’t have to put up with 35-minute half innings.
Game Flow
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Halo Hero
Albert’s two-month struggle with the BABIP gods and the Mendoza Line seems to be at an end. He’s raised his BABIP 32 points in the last five games (to .192), raising his batting average all the way to .212.
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