MONDAY ANGELS ROUNDUP: Trevor Bell To Make Start, John Lackey Gets Stopped

Up next for Angels: Monday vs. Tampa Bay - Los Angeles Times
Sean O'Sullivan vs. Matt Garza

Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - FOX Sports on MSN
Through the first five hitless innings to the last 1-2-3 frame, the rookie catcher and his rookie left-hander were perfectly poised while shutting out the majors' highest-scoring team.

Speed on display as Angels, Rays clash - angelsbaseball.com
It's open to debate as the Anaheim Relays unfold with Monday's series opener. Carl Crawford and Co. are coming in from Tampa Bay to challenge Chone Figgins and friends on their home turf.

Team Reports - CBSSports.com
RHP John Lackey threw a career-high 131 pitches in 6 2/3 innings Sunday. Lackey took the loss but allowed only two unearned runs in his start and has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of his past nine starts. For his career, Lackey is 10-12 with a 5.84 ERA against the Rangers (the only AL West team against whom he has a losing record).

Team Reports II - CBSSports.com
OF Torii Hunter is on track to start a minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday. Hunter would then join the Angels when they start a nine-game road trip in Baltimore next weekend. Hunter has been out since July 7 with an adductor strain in his right groin.

Now it's rotation roulette - Angels Unplugged - Los Angeles Times
Check out the roll and the starting pitchers likely to work the next three games for the home club in Anaheim:

rallymonkeys: Figgins sits one out
For only the second time this season -- not since April 26 -- he wasn't getting emotionally prepared to start a game. "I'll be ready for whatever they need," he said. "But I don't like sitting. Mike [Scioscia] knows that."

Crescenta Valley High alumni Bell candidate to be Angels' Wednesday starter - LA Daily News
Bell opened the season at Double-A Arkansas and posted a 4-3 record. But he had a 2.23 ERA in 11 starts with 51 strikeouts that earned him a move to Salt Lake. With the Bees, Bell is 3-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 11 more outings.

Jepsen, Bulger come into their own - angelsbaseball.com
It is the catcher who sees, feels and senses the growth and development of a pitcher, and Napoli -- sharing catching duties with good buddy Jeff Mathis -- has watched Jepsen and Bulger evolve this season right before his impressed eyes. "They've definitely helped us out in a big way," Napoli said of the two big right-handers. "They kind of struggled a little bit early, but they grew, figured some things out. Most of it is confidence. They've got the stuff."

Baseball Digest Daily Blog - Diggin’ In The Defensive Dirt (Part 6) — Right Field
A look at the other corner outfield spot put Seth Smith and David DeJesus at the top of the rankings of the defensive metrics in left field. Now, let’s see how the right fielders rank.

All-Star Game renovations at Angel Stadium to begin - LA Daily News
With the 2010 All-Star Game rolling into Anaheim in about 11 months, the Angels won't waste any time making improvements to Angel Stadium.

Playoff odds, 8/10 - Angels blog - OCRegister.com
To make the playoffs: 78 percent

Ever Wonder How Many Balls MLB Uses in a Season?? - MLB Daily Dish
According to John Silverman, equipment manager for the Florida Marlins, a major-league baseball only lasts for three or four pitches.

August 10 - BR Bullpen
Events, births and deaths that occurred on August 10.
1979 - Dan Ford hits for the cycle but his Angels lose 8 - 6 to the Mariners.
1997 - Angels' IF-OF Tony Phillips is arrested after allegedly buying a small quantity of freebase cocaine at a motel in Anaheim.