Jered Weaver and Angels cruise to 12-3 win over Indians

AT THE PLATE: Howie Kendrick is batting .565 (13 for 23) with two homers, two doubles, two triples and 10 runs batted in over his last five games. Kole Calhoun, in a 3-for-29 slump before Friday, is eight for 18 (.444) with a homer and four RBIs in his last four games. David Freese entered Thursday in an 0-for-20 slump but has gone eight for 18 (.444) with four doubles, a homer and four RBIs in his last five games. Albert Pujols had three hits Monday and is nine for 19 (.474) with two homers and eight RBIs in his last four games.

ON THE MOUND: Jered Weaver, who improved to 16-8 Monday, has been a model of consistency, allowing three or fewer earned runs in six straight starts since Aug. 13 and going 4-1 with a 3.16 earned-run average over the span. Jason Grilli, Fernando Salas and Jairo Diaz, who made his major league debut, each threw a scoreless relief inning.

LOOKING AHEAD: The Angels will open the 2015 season at Seattle on April 6, and their home opener will be April 10 against Kansas City. The 20-game interleague schedule will be against National League West clubs, with six games against the Dodgers, home series against Colorado, San Diego and Arizona and road series at San Francisco, Arizona and Colorado. After East Coast trips to Baltimore-Toronto-Boston (May 15-24) and New York-Tampa Bay (June 5-11), the Angels won’t play in the Eastern time zone again until an Aug. 25-30 trip to Detroit and Cleveland. They close the regular season Oct. 4 at Texas.

ARMS RACE: The Angels added another power arm to the bullpen Monday in Diaz, the 23-year-old right-hander who combines a 98-mph fastball with a power breaking ball. Diaz had a 3.49 ERA, 85 strikeouts and 20 walks in 64 2/3 innings at Class-A Inland Empire and double-A Arkansas. He walked two but also struck out two in the ninth inning Monday. “His stuff comes out hot,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. To make room for Diaz on the 40-man roster, the Angels designated triple-A infielder Ryan Wheeler for assignment.

EXTRA BASES: Josh Hamilton missed his fourth straight game because of soreness in the back of his right shoulder and remains day to day. . . . Scioscia said Cory Rasmus would make a third start in place of the injured Garrett Richards on Thursday night in Texas. . . . Left-hander Joe Thatcher (left-ankle sprain) will join the Angels in Texas on Tuesday, but the team has not determined if he is ready to be activated. . . . Reliever Michael Kohn, designated for assignment last week, cleared waivers and elected free agency.

UP NEXT: Left-hander Hector Santiago (4-7, 3.46 ERA) will oppose Texas right-hander Colby Lewis (9-12, 5.42 ERA) at Globe Life Park on Tuesday at 5 p.m. PDT. On the air: TV: FS West. Radio: 830.