The Los Angeles Angels ended their 14-game losing streak with a win against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday, but now they face an even tougher test with the highly talented New York Mets coming into town.
L.A. enters the series with a run differential of +11 and a record of 28-31, which puts them nine games out of first in the American League West and 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. The Mets have been one of baseball’s top teams all season and enter with a record of 38-21 and a run differential of +64.
Prior to the series opener, the Angels activated Anthony Rendon off the 10-day injured list and he is starting at third base. Mike Trout, who was hoping to play on Friday, remained out of the lineup.
Game 1: 6:38 p.m. PT
Jhonathan Diaz appears to be the likely starter for the Angels, although they have not officially announced anything as of 4:25 p.m. He is not on the active roster, so they would need to make a move to recall him.
The southpaw has posted a 1.32 ERA in 13.2 innings and three games with the Major League club this season, and owns a career 2.70 ERA in 26.2 innings across six games. In his last outing on June 2, he gave up two runs across four innings to the New York Yankees, and he has yet to pitch more than five innings in a start.
The Mets send Tyler Megill to the mound, who is looking to rebound from a disastrous outing his last time out. The right-hander has posted a 4.41 ERA across 34.2 innings with 37 strikeouts this season and he lasted just 1.1 innings while giving up eight runs to the Washington Nationals his previous start.
He owns a career 4.49 ERA in 124.1 innings pitched with 136 strikeouts.
Game 2: 7:07 p.m. PT
In the second game, L.A. sends Michael Lorenzen to the mound, who has shown flashes of dominance mixed with poor outings in his first season as a starter. On the season, he has posted a 3.69 ERA across 53.2 innings, but he has only struck out 40 batters.
In his previous outing, he allowed five runs across 5.2 innings, but he was much better in his two starts before that when he went 6.2 innings with three runs allowed and six shutout innings in his other one.
The Mets counter with Carlos Carrasco, who has returned to form after a poor 2021 season where it was revealed he was pitching injured. Across his 11 starts, the veteran right-hander owns a 3.52 ERA with 64 innings pitched and 61 strikeouts.
In his last outing, Carrasco threw seven innings, allowing two runs, against the San Diego Padres. He owns a career 3.84 ERA in 1,360 innings with 1,416 strikeouts, most of which came during his time with the then-Cleveland Indians.
Game 3: 4:08 p.m. PT
In the final game, the Angels turn to Patrick Sandoval, who has arguably been their best starter this season. Across nine games, the left-hander has pitched to a 2.81 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 48 innings in the midst of a breakout season.
He hasn’t performed at that same level in his last two outings, giving up seven earned runs in just 7.2 innings total, but prior to that he pitched 7.1 innings while giving up just one run. He owns a 4.05 ERA in 211 innings with 215 strikeouts during his short career.
The Mets go with Taijuan Walker, who the Angels know well from his two stints with the Seattle Mariners. The right-hander has a 3.28 ERA in 46.2 innings this year, but he has only struck out 25 hitters.
Walker owns a career 3.93 ERA in 787.1 innings with 699 strikeouts, and he’s coming off an outing where he gave up four runs in six innings.
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