The Los Angeles Angels send Dan Haren to the mound Wednesday night at Rogers Centre in the third game of a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays. With eight games left in the regular season, the Angels are in need of two things: (a) wins; and (b) some help.
- The Angels' elimination number (losses, plus wins by the Texas Rangers) in the American League West is four
- The Angels' elimination number in the wild card (with the Red Sox) is five, but they also trail the Tampa Bay Rays
The bottom line is that the Angels need wins and they need them now. Luckily, their big three of Jered Weaver, Haren, and Ervin Santana will start six of those final eight regular season games. The Angels are 57-39 in games started by those three pitchers, who have combined for a 3.01 ERA and average seven innings per start. The Halos are 27-31 in games started by any other pitchers this season.
Haren has allowed seven runs in two of his last three road starts, including a loss in Baltimore on Friday. Haren on the season is 15-9 with a 3.24 ERA and has a streak of 22 straight starts without walking more than two batters. Haren has just 30 walks in 32 starts this season, to go with 180 strikeouts.
Dustin McGowan gets the start for Toronto, his third start of the year. In three appearances this season, all in September, McGowan has allowed 10 runs and 10 walks in 12 innings, with nine strikeouts.
Wednesday's 4:07 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Fox Sports West. For a look at the Angels and how they have been affected by the poor September by the Boston Red Sox, be sure to read Halos Heaven.