Series Preview: Angels @ Blue Jays (Hit the road with a Jack)

Angels 26-21
Blue Jays 22-25

The Angels offense will go limping in to this road series after a pretty dismal performance at home with 33 runs over 11 games and a 4-7 record over that home stand. But... there is good news. While the Angels have the 2nd worst average in baseball at home (.220) - they have the BEST average on the road (.291).

The Blue Jays are coming off a 4 game sweep at the hands of the A’s and have lost 7 of their last 9.

Know your foe:

Blue Jays - who’s hot (last 7 days):

Justin Smoak .273 AVG, .429 OBP, 1 home run

Weather Forecast

GAME 1

Garrett Richards (3.47 ERA) v. J.A. Happ (4.15 ERA)
Tuesday, May 22nd @ 4:07PM

Pitcher vs. Batters

Notable Stats

Summary:

Richards has turned things around over this last 3 starts. After walking 19 batters over his first 27.2 innings, he’s walked only 2 over his last 19 innings. He also has a 1.42 ERA over his last 3 starts including a pair of 2 scoreless starts against the Mariners and Astros.

Pitch Arsenal:

Happ has nearly 1 whole WAR with a respectable 1.135 WHIP this year. He hasn’t been great, but he has been respectable and has mixed 10 hit 7 run starts (against the Mariners) with starts like his last one in which he threw 7 scoreless 2 hit innings while striking out 10.

Pitch Arsenal:

Verdict: Game 1 should lean Angels but a pitching duel could result with two pitchers who are coming off really strong scoreless outings in their last trips to the mound.

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GAME 2

Tyler Skaggs (2.88 ERA) v. Aaron Sanchez (4.47 ERA)
Wednesday, May 23rd @ 4:07PM

Pitcher vs. Batters

Summary:

Skaggs needs to keep being the 2018 version of Skaggs because that guy has been pretty darn good and has allowed more than 2 runs in a start only once in his 9 games. Skaggs last faced the Blue Jays at him in April of 2017 and allowed 2 runs over 7 innings.

Pitch Arsenal:

Sanchez has been consistently mediocre with 3-4 runs allowed in pretty much every start this year but he has had a few 2 run outings. He’s prone to walks and has given up 29 of them to 40Ks over 50 innings.

Pitch Arsenal:

Verdict: If Skaggs can keep pitching well, the Angels could take game 2. However, Sanchez has also yet to give up more than 4 runs so the Angels may need to break that streak.

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GAME 3

Nick Tropeano (4.45 ERA) v. Marco Estrada (5.15 ERA)
Thursday, May 24th @ 9:37AM

Pitcher vs. Batters

Notable Stats

Summary:

Tropeano only lasted 2.2 innings in his last start and was the only starter to not log a quality start. It hasn’t been all bad for Skaggs who has had TWO quality start in his 6 games by shutting out both the Royals and Orioles over 6+ innings.

Pitch Arsenal:

Estrada has a similar story to Sanchez in that he’s been “okay” most of the year so far. Not a real stand out but a few solid starts. He’s had his share of long balls with 11 allowed over 50 innings.

Pitch Arsenal:

Verdict: Probably the most toss up game of the series with a pair of unpredictable pitchers on the mound.

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Overall Verdict: The Angels should at least pull off a series win, but that’s assuming their offense decides to wake up for this road trip.

Current Standings