The Los Angeles Angels return to Anaheim to host the Washington Nationals in a three-game interleague series after they defeated the Boston Red Sox in the series rubber match on Thursday.
The Angels enter the series on a two-game winning streak and winners of seven of their last 10. With a record of 17-10, they are currently first in the American League West and second overall in the AL behind the New York Yankees. Their run differential of +27 also ranks second in the AL and first in the division.
The Nationals, on the other hand, are in the midst of a rebuild that has them last in the National League East with a 9-18 record and -30 run differential. They have just three wins in their last 10 games and have dropped two consecutive games.
Game 1: 3-0 Victory
Preview: The Angels did not name a starter until just a few hours before the game, but Jhonathan Diaz will be on the mound after he was promoted on Friday. Jose Rojas was optioned to make room.
Diaz posted a 1.96 ERA and 3.62 FIP in 23 innings while striking out 7.04 per nine and walking 3.91 per nine in Triple-A, which earned him PCL pitcher of the week honors for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees.
The Nationals send Joan Adon to the mound, a young right-hander who has not found much success at the Major League level. In 23.1 innings this season, he owns a 7.33 ERA with 21 strikeouts, 13 walks and a record of 1-4 in five starts.
Prior to the 2022 season, he only made one appearance and pitched 5.1 innings while allowing two runs.
Recap: Diaz pitched five shutout innings in his season debut while striking out four and giving up three hits, but he also managed to walk four. From there, the bullpen added four more shutout innings with Raisel Iglesias picking up his seventh save.
L.A. took the lead in the first when Shohei Ohtani drove in Taylor Ward on a groundout to first base, and that was all they needed throughout the game. However, in the fifth inning, Mike Trout drove in two more runs on a double as the Angels won 3-0.
Game 2: 6:07 p.m.
The Angels announced Michael Lorenzen will start the middle game of the series. The right-hander owns a 3.04 ERA in 23.2 innings across four starts. He is also coming off his best outing of the season where he pitched 8.1 innings while allowing three runs against the Chicago White Sox.
Josiah Gray starts for the Nationals. The former top prospect was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers last season in the Max Scherzer and Trea Turner trade and so far he has impressed.
Gray owns a 3.12 ERA in 26 innings this season while striking out 31 batters over his five starts. He’s coming off his best start of the season when he shut out the San Francisco Giants for six innings while only allowing one hit.
Game 3: 1:07 p.m.
Patrick Sandoval will pitch the final game looking to continue his stellar season. The southpaw owns a 1.29 ERA across 21 innings while striking out 22 hitters. He allowed his first runs of the season in his previous outing against the White Sox, but was still effective, throwing six innings while allowing three runs.
The Nationals will give the ball to Erick Fedde to close out the series. In 25 innings this season, the right-hander owns a 4.68 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 25 innings across five starts.
He owns a 5.21 ERA in 352.1 innings with 280 strikeouts across 80 career games.
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