Angels set rotation based on matchups
The Angels could have started Ervin Santana and Dan Haren on regular rest against the Seattle Mariners Wednesday night and Thursday. Or, they could have started C.J. Wilson and Santana against the Mariners.
Manager Mike Scioscia chose to go with Wilson and Haren because of their success against the Mariners this season and because Santana, the most effective of those three starters right now, probably gives them a better chance of beating the Rangers in Texas on Saturday.
Wilson allowed one earned run and two hits in six innings of a 4-2 win over Seattle on May 27 and has a 10-5 career record and 3.88 earned run average against the Mariners.
Two of Haren’s best starts have come in Seattle, a four-hit, 14-strikeout shutout on May 24 and a seven-inning effort in which he gave up one unearned run and five hits. By starting Wilson and Haren this week, both would be aligned to start the first two games of the season-ending series in Seattle next week.
Santana is 4-2 with a 2.49 ERA in his last seven starts and allowed three runs and four hits in five innings of a 15-8 win at Texas on July 30. By pitching Saturday, he would be aligned to start a potential one-game playoff to win a wild-card spot on regular rest on Thursday, Oct. 4.
“There’s a lot of things we’ve sliced up in the last 10 days in looking at the rotation,” Scioscia said. “This puts Dan in a good position and gives us some flexibility on the back side.”
Ace Jered Weaver is in line to start Friday night’s series opener at Texas and the regular-season finale in Seattle on Oct. 3. Zack Greinke, who is starting Tuesday night’s game against Seattle, will pitch again Sunday in Texas.
ALSO:
In Las Vegas, Lakers are rated as best bets
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
