The Los Angeles Angels begin Tuesday five games back in the American League West with nine games to play, in desperate need of a win as they battle the Toronto Blue Jays in the second game of a four-game series at Rogers Centre. Joel Pineiro starts for the Angels, facing Brett Cecil for Toronto.
The Angels need to be at least two games better than Texas over their next six games for the final three games against the Rangers in Anaheim to even mean anything. The Angels are also alive in the wild card race, but having to pass both the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox seems too tall a task. The Halos almost need to win out to play in October.
Pineiro has had a nightmarish second half, allowing 43 runs in 43 innings since the All-Star break. During that span, which covers eight starts and three relief appearances, Pineiro has struck out just 14 hitters, and has walked 13 and allowed nine home runs. Pineiro allowed three runs in two innings of mop-up relief in Toronto on August 13.
Cecil has had a bad run of luck lately, as he has no wins in his last eight starts, despite four quality starts and a 4.42 ERA that is pretty much in line with his seasonal numbers. Cecil has allowed nine runs in 12 innings in two starts against the Angels this season, both no decisions.
Tuesday night's 4:07 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Fox Sports West. For more news and information on the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven.