Angels: Week ahead

Monday through Wednesday: vs. Tampa Bay

Friday through Sunday: vs. Oakland

The Rays got off to a faster start after 28 games than the Cleveland Cavaliers, who wound up leading the NBA in wins this season. And the Rays went into the weekend having won 12 of their first 13 road games, posting a 2.19 earned-run average and holding opponents to a .203 average, both marks the best in the majors. So why should the slumping Angels even bother to show up for their series with Tampa Bay this week? Because the Rays just might be the tonic for what ails. Tampa Bay is 1-13 in Anaheim under former Angels bench coach Joe Maddon. And last June, when the Angels went into Tampa Bay only a game over .500 and four games back in the division race, a three-game series with the Rays started them on a 69-38 run that led to a third consecutive American League West title.

— Kevin Baxter