Series preview: Indians at Angels (April 28-30)

The Tribe conclude this west coast jaunt with a three-game set in the heart of Orange County to face the Angels.

• Monday's game is at 10:05 PM (Masterson vs. Skaggs)

• Tuesday's game is at 10:05 PM (Kluber vs. Weaver)

• Wednesday's game is at 7:05 PM (Carrasco vs. Wilson)

After a travel day on Thursday, the Indians will take on the White Sox back at Progressive Field over the weekend

Division Watch: Tigers at White Sox, at Rangers, Blue Jays at Royals, Dodgers at Twins.

Team in a Box

Los Angeles Angels		Offense		AL Rank	Pitching		AL Rank
2014 Record	11-13	Runs/Game	5.6	2nd	Runs/Game	4.3	5th
AL West	3rd	OBP	317	12th	H/9	7.7	2nd
Last 10	5-5	SLG	449	1st	BB/9	4.0	12th
Last 30	-	Steals	14	10th	SO/9	8.5	6th

*all stats through Saturday's games except overall record

The Angels are second in runs scored this season, but find themselves with a record similar to the Tribe. They have been very inconsistent as they have scored 9 or more six times already, but three or less in ten games. They just finished a rough road trip of their own, losing two of three in Detroit, winning two of three in D.C. and losing two of three to the Yankees. They played the night game in New York last night and did not get a day off before this series started.

The offense has been very homer dependent, as they lead the league in them as well as slugging, but are just twelfth in getting on base. The pitching staff gives up very few hits, but negates that by being walk heavy. Defensively, they are pretty good overall as well.

25-Man Roster

Pos	Starters	Bats	PA	BA	OPS
C	Chris Iannetta	R	67	222	784
1B	Albert Pujols	R	106	299	998
2B	Howie Kendrick	R	107	299	777
3B	David Freese	R	75	149	422
SS	Erick Aybar	S	90	262	681
LF	J.B. Shuck	L	64	164	469
CF	Mike Trout	R	107	313	977
RF	Collin Cowgill	L	36	290	920
DH	Raul Ibanez	L	77	155	531
	Bench
IF	John McDonald	L	15	357	829
IF	Ian Stewart	L	45	256	535
C	Hank Conger	S	30	310	851

With Josh Hamilton and Kole Calhoun both down, Cowgill has taken over in right field. Trout has been superb as usual. Pujols has made a comeback so far this year, hitting 9 home runs already, including the 500th of his career. Kendrick has made the offense go. Iannetta, Freese, and Ibanez have really struggled in April.

They do not have a backup outfielder on the roster a they optioned out Brennan Boesch over the weekend for an eighth bullpen arm. Dear old friend LGFT John McDonald is still hanging around at age 39.

Projected Staff

Rotation	Throws	ERA	IP	WHIP	K/9
Jered Weaver	R	4.11	30.2	1.141	6.5
C.J. Wilson	L	3.69	31.2	1.295	9.4
Hector Santiago	L	4.44	26.1	1.443	7.9
Garrett Richards	R	2.52	25.0	1.080	8.6
Tyler Skaggs	L	3.21	28.0	1.107	5.1
Bullpen
Joe Smith	R	3.60	10.0	1.100	9.9
Michael Kohn	R	1.38	13.0	1.000	9.7
Fernando Salas	R	2.79	9.2	1.345	12.1
Kevin Jepsen	R	5.63	8.0	1.375	14.6
Nick Maronde	L	1.93	4.2	1.714	13.5
Ernesto Frieri	R	7.59	10.2	1.594	10.1
Yoslan Herrera	R	1.50	6.0	1.833	9.0
Mike Morin	R	-	-	-	-

With Wilson and Skaggs both on tap during this series, Lonnie Chisenhall will likely only start against Weaver. Weaver has not been his usual dominant self yet (K/9 rate is just 6.5), although his WHIP is pretty low. Skaggs has pitched like the top prospect he was touted to be (wish we could say that about our guys more often) and Wilson historically has been very tough on Tribe hitters.

Frieri was the closer until a few days ago, when manager Mike Scioscia made LGFT Joe Smith the temporary closer. The rest of the bullpen except Jensen have been pretty much lights out, with not a single one of them averaging under a strikeout per inning.

On the Shelf

• RF Josh Hamilton [15 day DL], possible late May return

• RF Kole Calhoun [15 day DL], possible mid to late May return

• SP Sean Burnett [15 day DL] , no timetable for return

• RP Dane De La Rosa [15 day DL] , no timetable for return

• P Ryan Brasier [60 day DL], no timetable for return

• P Brian Moran [60 day DL], out for season

Almanac

	W	L	Pct	RS	RA	Pythag
2014	-	-	-	-	-	-
2013	4	2	667	22	21	521
Last 5 years*	19	20	487	154	142	537
Last 10 years*	40	44	476	374	349	532
All-Time	296	317	483	2627	2755	478

*Does not include 2014 stats