LA Angels host Red Sox in series clouded by tragedy
LA Angels host Red Sox in series clouded by tragedy
All the recent history and rivalry that this series brings, from the Angels beating up on the Red Sox in the 2008 regular season to Boston bouncing LA once again from the playoffs, will take a backseat to the death of Halos pitcher Nick Adenhart on Thursday. The loss of Adenhart only adds to the pitching woes for the Angels early this season while Boston comes in with several arm concerns of their own to deal with.
Talk about putting matters in perspective.
I had this weekend’s Boston Red Sox-Los Angeles Angels three-game series circled ever since the 2009 MLB schedule was released back in the winter. After the tragic death of the Angels’ 22-year old pitcher Nick Adenhart early on Thursday morning, the battle in Anaheim takes on much less (and more proper) significance in the grand scheme of things.
But the show must go on. So with minds and hearts focused on their fallen teammate, the Halos host the BoSox for a trio of games starting on Friday night at Angel Stadium.
Jared Weaver gets the ball in the opener for L.A. in his first start of the season, while Boston turns to knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Weaver is expected to get the ball despite being officially listed as probable with shoulder tightness in his throwing arm, as the righthander looks to rebound from a mediocre season.
Weaver went 11-10 with a 4.34 ERA in 2008, one season after going 13-7 with a 3.91 ERA and two years after his 11-2, 2.56 ERA showing in his rookie campaign. It seems as though hitters have caught up to Weaver’s deceptive delivery and quirky release; Angels backers certainly need him back at his best with starters John Lackey (forearm), Ervin Santana (elbow), and Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) all on the 15-day disabled list to start the season.
Both of the Game 1 starters have struggled against their respective opponents. Weaver is 1-2 with a 5.35 ERA in six career starts against the Red Sox, while Wakefield hasn’t won at Angel Stadium since 2002, posting a bloated 9.78 ERA in the process.
Oddsmakers essentially have Friday night’s matchup as a pick ‘em, with Los Angeles priced as -105 chalk on the betting odds as of press time on Friday morning. Beantown was listed at the same number on the moneyline at a variety of sportsbooks, which is down from the -125 tag on the BoSox when the line was released.
The Angels were an extremely profitable wager against the Red Sox last season – until the American League Division Series rolled around. L.A. went 8-1 against the moneyline in games with Boston during the regular season before being upended in four games in the ALDS.
Brad Penny is slated to make his BoSox debut for Saturday afternoon’s second game, although the burly righty is listed as probable because of his nagging shoulder. Penny nursed his arm all season in ’08, going a disappointing 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers one season after he put up a career year. The Boston reclamation project was the starter in the All-Star Game back in 2007, when Penny was 16-4 with an impressive 3.03 ERA at Chavez Ravine.
Shane Loux makes his fourth start for the Halos on Saturday, as the career reliever is pressed into action because of the injuries to the aforementioned arms. Loux had an excellent 2.81 ERA in seven appearances out of the bullpen for Los Angeles last season; at the very least he’s someone Boston hasn’t seen before. He could keep the Red Sox lineup off balance a few times through the order.
Angels know what they’re getting for Sunday’s series finale. Defacto ace Joe Saunders takes the hill against the Red Sox without having ever lost against them. The lefthander is 7-0 with a 3.43 ERA in his career against Boston, which turns to rotation leader Josh Beckett for Game 3.
Saunders held the Oakland Athletics scoreless over 6 2-3 innings to get the win in L.A.’s 3-0 victory on opening day on Monday, as the Angels cashed as -138 home favorites. Los Angeles went on to lose the following two games against Oakland, while Thursday’s contest was postponed because of Adenhart’s untimely death.
Beckett was dominant in Boston’s 5-3 triumph on opening day at Fenway Park against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing only one run over seven innings while striking out 10 batters in the Red Sox’ 5-3 win as -155 chalk. The hardthrowing righthander gave up only two hits to the defending American League champions, who defeated Boston in the following two games of their three-game set.
The total for Friday’s series opener is set at 9.
All the recent history and rivalry that this series brings, from the Angels beating up on the Red Sox in the 2008 regular season to Boston bouncing LA once again from the playoffs, will take a backseat to the death of Halos pitcher Nick Adenhart on Thursday. The loss of Adenhart only adds to the pitching woes for the Angels early this season while Boston comes in with several arm concerns of their own to deal with.
Talk about putting matters in perspective.
I had this weekend’s Boston Red Sox-Los Angeles Angels three-game series circled ever since the 2009 MLB schedule was released back in the winter. After the tragic death of the Angels’ 22-year old pitcher Nick Adenhart early on Thursday morning, the battle in Anaheim takes on much less (and more proper) significance in the grand scheme of things.
But the show must go on. So with minds and hearts focused on their fallen teammate, the Halos host the BoSox for a trio of games starting on Friday night at Angel Stadium.
Jared Weaver gets the ball in the opener for L.A. in his first start of the season, while Boston turns to knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Weaver is expected to get the ball despite being officially listed as probable with shoulder tightness in his throwing arm, as the righthander looks to rebound from a mediocre season.
Weaver went 11-10 with a 4.34 ERA in 2008, one season after going 13-7 with a 3.91 ERA and two years after his 11-2, 2.56 ERA showing in his rookie campaign. It seems as though hitters have caught up to Weaver’s deceptive delivery and quirky release; Angels backers certainly need him back at his best with starters John Lackey (forearm), Ervin Santana (elbow), and Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) all on the 15-day disabled list to start the season.
Both of the Game 1 starters have struggled against their respective opponents. Weaver is 1-2 with a 5.35 ERA in six career starts against the Red Sox, while Wakefield hasn’t won at Angel Stadium since 2002, posting a bloated 9.78 ERA in the process.
Oddsmakers essentially have Friday night’s matchup as a pick ‘em, with Los Angeles priced as -105 chalk on the betting odds as of press time on Friday morning. Beantown was listed at the same number on the moneyline at a variety of sportsbooks, which is down from the -125 tag on the BoSox when the line was released.
The Angels were an extremely profitable wager against the Red Sox last season – until the American League Division Series rolled around. L.A. went 8-1 against the moneyline in games with Boston during the regular season before being upended in four games in the ALDS.
Brad Penny is slated to make his BoSox debut for Saturday afternoon’s second game, although the burly righty is listed as probable because of his nagging shoulder. Penny nursed his arm all season in ’08, going a disappointing 6-9 with a 6.27 ERA for the Los Angeles Dodgers one season after he put up a career year. The Boston reclamation project was the starter in the All-Star Game back in 2007, when Penny was 16-4 with an impressive 3.03 ERA at Chavez Ravine.
Shane Loux makes his fourth start for the Halos on Saturday, as the career reliever is pressed into action because of the injuries to the aforementioned arms. Loux had an excellent 2.81 ERA in seven appearances out of the bullpen for Los Angeles last season; at the very least he’s someone Boston hasn’t seen before. He could keep the Red Sox lineup off balance a few times through the order.
Angels know what they’re getting for Sunday’s series finale. Defacto ace Joe Saunders takes the hill against the Red Sox without having ever lost against them. The lefthander is 7-0 with a 3.43 ERA in his career against Boston, which turns to rotation leader Josh Beckett for Game 3.
Saunders held the Oakland Athletics scoreless over 6 2-3 innings to get the win in L.A.’s 3-0 victory on opening day on Monday, as the Angels cashed as -138 home favorites. Los Angeles went on to lose the following two games against Oakland, while Thursday’s contest was postponed because of Adenhart’s untimely death.
Beckett was dominant in Boston’s 5-3 triumph on opening day at Fenway Park against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing only one run over seven innings while striking out 10 batters in the Red Sox’ 5-3 win as -155 chalk. The hardthrowing righthander gave up only two hits to the defending American League champions, who defeated Boston in the following two games of their three-game set.
The total for Friday’s series opener is set at 9.