The division rival Seattle Mariners come to Anaheim to play the Angels for four games starting Thursday night, in the final games prior to baseball's all-star break. Both teams are coming off losses on Wednesday, Seattle lost 2-0 to the Oakland A's, while the Halos got beat by the Detroit Tigers 5-3. Seattle (43-44) had won its previous three games, but are last in the AL in batting average, while the Angels (46-42) have been one of the hottest teams in baseball over the past two weeks, winning their past 7 series.
Taking the hill for the Angels will be the potential all-game starter Jered Weaver (10-4, 1.92 ERA). Since May 23rd, the cross-firing right-hander is 4-0 with a 1.31 ERA in 61.2 innings. In those 8 starts, Weaver has allowed just 38 hits and only one home run, while striking out 49 and walking 15. In his last outing Saturday against the Dodgers, Weaver got the win after pitching 8 innings of 4-hit, one-run baseball.
Dou Fister (3-9, 3.02 ERA) has pitched almost as well as Weaver, yet has little to show for it. The right-hander is winless in his last six starts despite compiling a 2.68 ERA.
The Angels have lost 3 of 5 against the Mariners, but won 2 of 3 in Seattle in June. In the second game of that series Weaver shutout the Seattle club, while Fister took the loss. That series was also the first of seven in the Angels current series win streak.
Who's Hot - Last 7 Games:
Howie Kendrick - 7 for his last 21 (.333)
Dustin Ackley - 4 for his last 13 (.308),1 HR
Who's Cold - Last 7 Games:
Alberto Callaspo - 3 for his last 16 (.188)
Vernon Wells - 5 for his last 23 (.217)
Maicer Izturis - 2 for his last 19 (.105)
Josh Bard - 2 for his last 16 (.125)
Franklin Gutierrez -1 for his last 17 (.059)
Game time is 7:05 (PDT) and will be show in Fox Sports West. For more Angels' news, be sure to check out Halos Heaven.