Series Preview: Angels @ Yankees (Dingerz are coming)

The Angels will be playing in the Bronx sandbox for a 3 game set before heading up to Bean Town. What could go wrong when you take the team with the most homeruns, pair them up a team that’s given up 100 dingerz (3rd in MLB) and then put them in a stadium that has the 2nd highest home run factor in all of baseball??

Last week, the Angels took 2 of 3 from the Yanks - but on their own home turf in Anaheim. It was a mostly a struggle for the Halos this past week, who also dropped 3 of 4 from a not so great Royals team. Taking away Saturday’s impressive 9 run slug fest, the Angels scored only 19 runs in their other 6 games.

Oh - did I mention that Chapman is back in the Yankees pen? That’s surely not going to help with close late inning games. Also, the Angels have dropped 9 straight at Yankee stadium and haven’t won there since April of 2015.

There is some good news as the Yankees have been struggling and have dropped 6 games in a row, including a sweep by the Athletics. Ouch. That has to hurt.

Series Question: Can the Angels beat the Yanks on their home turf?

GAME 1

Parker Bridwell v. Michael Pineda
Tuesday, June 20th @ 4:05PM

Pitcher vs. Batters

Notable Stats

Summary:

Parker Bridwell will be making his second big league start on Tuesday. He threw 92 pitches and gave up 3 runs over 6 innings his first time out at the end of May. In his only other big league appearance, he threw 3.2 scoreless innings against the Yankees last week. Bridwell has a 4.28 ERA in Salt Lake this year with 24Ks and 8 walks.

Michael Pineda has been good this year - at least until June. In his 3 June starts he has given up 10 ER in 18 IP with 5 each in his games against the Blue Jays and Angels just last week. Pineda gave up 10 hits in that game against the Angels, including a homerun to Danny Espinosa.

Verdict: Strangely enough, this feels like the game the Angels could most likely win - especially if they can get to Pineda again.

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GAME 2

Ricky Nolasco v. Cy Rookie Jordan Montgomery
Wednesday, June 21st @ 4:05PM

Pitcher vs. Batters

Notable Stats:

Summary:

Now that 40 year old Bronson Arroyo is on the DL, Ricky Nolasco may soon by the MLB HR allowed leader. He current sits at 21, tied with Masihiro Tanaka, and just 2 behind Arroyo. This is a bit of a scary matchup with this hard hitting Yankee team at home against Nolasco. He has only pitched at Yankee stadium once in his career - back in 2014 and he didn’t give up a homerun.

Jordan Montgomery is in the midst of a pretty decent rookie season. He has a 3.78 ERA and 1.246 WHIP in 12 starts. Montgomery is not immune to homeruns either and has given up 8 in 69 innings. In 9 of his 12 starts he’s allowed 3 or fewer runs.

Verdict: Could be a few homers in this game that probably leans Yankees.

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GAME 3

Jesse Chavez v. Luis Severino
Thursday, June 22nd @ 4:05PM

Pitcher vs. Batters

Notable Stats:

Summary:

Jesse Chavez is hard to predict this year and his been bouncing back and forth between solid and no so great performances. In 3 of his last 4 games he’s allowed 2 or fewer runs, however, in 3 of his last 5 games he’s allowed 5 or more runs. The last time he pitched in NY as a starter was in 2015 when he gave up 4 runs and homer in 5 innings.

Luis Severino has a 2.99 ERA and 1.045 WHIP in 12 starts. He also has 90 Ks in 81.1 innings (hello Danny Espinosa!). Severino is not a rookie, but hasn’t faced the Angels in any of his 3 seasons so far. He has the best ERA and WHIP on the team and the Angels will be getting the toughest pitcher last in this series.

Verdict: Tough one for the Angels unless they pull one of those reverse “win a game that they shouldn’t have” kind of tricks.

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Overall Verdict: I’m not seeing the Angels coming away with a series win and they have struggled at Yankee Stadium. Let’s just hope for no sweep.