The battle for the bottom of the American League West barrel is all but locked up. With a month of baseball left to be played, the Los Angeles Angels cap off their road trip with a set against the Oakland Athletics beginning on Friday at the Oakland Coliseum.
Coming into play with a 25-win difference between the two clubs, the Angels remain five games under the .500 mark, even so. Having won five of their seven total matchups on the year, manager Phil Nevin’s club has doubled the Athletics scoring total in their matchups this season.
An 8-19 August record was a time to forget for the Angels, with a buildup of hope after acquiring a number of pieces to help their roster, that has since crashed down. Earlier his week the club announced they had placed Lucas Giolito, Matt Moore, Reynaldo López, Hunter Renfroe & Randal Grichuk on waivers.
All but Grichuk were claimed, and the new-look Angels roster heading into Friday will have a youthful approach, without as much thump as previously shown. Sending out Patrick Sandoval in the opener is a great option, after the lefty tossed six innings in his last start, allowing one earned run on two hits.
His seven punchouts against the New York Mets were almost washed out by his four free passes, but Sandoval earned his seventh win of the season.
Nevin should feel confident in the middle game, as Griffin Canning gets the ball. The 27-year-old left an exclamation point versus the Mets, completing seven innings with just one run allowed on five hits and nine strikeouts.
Canning pitched with an immense amount of conviction and feel for the strike zone, but unfortunately earned a no-decision after they were defeated after a walk-off hit in the ninth.
The Angels will see Athletic’s ace Paul Blackburn on Saturday, and better hope their offense is up to the task. In Blackburn’s last seven starts, he’s notched a 2.36 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 42 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched.
Because of the bevy of players exiting the Angels clubhouse, corresponding moves have not been made to fill their spots on the roster.
Angels vs. Athletics Preview & TV Info
Game 1
Friday, Sept. 1, 6:40 p.m. PST
TV: Bally Sports West
Patrick Sandoval vs. JP Sears
Game 2
Saturday, Sept. 2, 1:07 p.m. PST
TV: Bally Sports West
Griffin Canning vs. Paul Blackburn
Game 3
Sunday, Sept. 3, 1:07 p.m. PST
TV: Bally Sports West
TBD vs. TBD
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