Know Your Foe #25: Fortunate Angels welcome Rockies to Anaheim

LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM (41-33, 3.5 GB, 2nd in AL West)

The Angels, who are, by the terms of their Pythagorean W-L record at least, the luckiest team in baseball, welcome the Colorado Rockies into Anaheim this weekend. Despite being eight games over .500, the Halos have been outscored by six runs, which puts their record-that-doesn't-count at two games under - 36-38, to be exact. This isn't particularly out of the ordinary for Mike Scioscia-managed teams, though, as his workmanlike approach to the game is reflected by his players and it results in a lot of gritty, gutty performances that guys like David Eckstein and Josh Fogg could appreciate.

Last Series vs. Rockies: June 22-24, 2009 @ Angel Stadium of Anaheim (W 2-1)

After getting punched in the mouth by Colorado to the tune of an 11-1 blowout loss, the Angels bounced back nicely to win the final two games of the series, by the scores of 4-3 and 11-3, respectively. Much like what has transpired throughout this season, the Halos were outscored in the series but were still able to get away with their record unscathed. In Game 1, the Angels were only able to scratch out three hits against Aaron Cook - one of which was a solo home run by now-injured Kendry Morales. Of the remaining Angels, Bobby Abreu hurt the Rockies the most over the next couple of games, as he went 3-7 with two walks, a homer, and five RBIs. Chone Figgins and Vladimir Guerrero tore up the Rockies, particularly in the series finale, but neither are with the club this season.

Matt Palmer and three relievers were smacked around in the opening game, but Sean O'Sullivan (despite being taken out of the ballpark twice by Troy Tulowitzki) and Joe Saunders were able to hold serve during the next two. The bullpen fared well in Game 2, tossing four scoreless innings that were capped off by Brian Fuentes' two strikeout performance.

Recent Series Results: won 2-1 at Chicago (NL), won 2-1 vs. Los Angeles (NL)

Howie Kendrick led the way for Los Angeles in the series in Chicago, as he went 5-for-14 with a couple of homers and five runs batted in. Torii Hunter also blasted two home runs and drove in four. Jered Weaver was the Angels' highlight of the series from a pitching standpoint, as he went seven shutout innings in Game 2 and struck out 11 batters, all while walking none and allowing just two hits.

Against the Dodgers, Kendrick (who apparently does not draw walks) stayed hot with the bat, going 6-for-13 with a couple of runs batted in and four runs scored. Bobby Abreu was 3-for 9 with four walks, a homer, and five RBI and Kevin Frandsen had four hits and three RBI. Joel Pineiro had the best pitching performance of the series, as he outdueled John Ely in Game 2. Pineiro allowed just a run on six hits in 7.1 innings, and struck out five. Ervin Santana looked good in the series' opening game as well, as he earned a victory over Clayton Kershaw by tossing a quality start (7 IP, 3 R, 6 K).

Friday-Sunday: 3-game series @ Angel Stadium of Anaheim

Expected Pitching Matchups

Friday, 25 June 2010 @ 8:05pm MT

Saturday, 26 June 2010 @ 8:05pm MT

Sunday, 27 June 2010 @ 1:35pm MT

More after the jump...

Expected Lineup

Bench

Closer

Injuries