This is put up or shut up time in MLB. The Red Sox have owned the Angels in the post-season winning nine straight from Los Halos covering three series AND 22 years. However, the Angels should turn things around on the Red Sox this time around. Anaheim posted the best record in baseball at 100-62 and handled Boston pretty well during the regular season going 8-1! They averaged nearly seven runs a game while batting .305 with 15 homers and at least one per game. More impressively the Angels pitching staff held the Boston line-up to three runs or fewer in each of the last seven meetings. Unlike past years when the Angels dominated in the regular season only to falter in playoffs, this year’s team has been built for the post-season. The Angels signed free agent Tori Hunter who contributed 21 homers and 19 stolen bases and added Mark Texiara at the traded deadline. Texiara hit .358 with 13 homers in 54 games in an Anaheim uniform. Throw in veterans Garrett Anderson and Vladimir Guerrero and you’ve got the foundation for a team poised to make a lengthy run in the playoffs.
The Angels will pin their Game 1 hopes on John Lackey who limited the Red Sox to five runs and seven hits over two games. Lackey just missed a no-hitter at Fenway when Dustin Pedroia broke things up with a one out single in the 9th. Boston counters with 16-game winner Jon Lester who was by far Boston’s most reliable hurler this season. Injuries have plagued the Sox this season: Josh Beckett has an injured side muscle, J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell have both been in and out of the line-up with injuries so I’m not sure how healthy Boston will be. Given that the Angels are home and healthy, plus have had three weeks plus to prepare for “Red October”, they should be ready to roll tonight.
The Angels will pin their Game 1 hopes on John Lackey who limited the Red Sox to five runs and seven hits over two games. Lackey just missed a no-hitter at Fenway when Dustin Pedroia broke things up with a one out single in the 9th. Boston counters with 16-game winner Jon Lester who was by far Boston’s most reliable hurler this season. Injuries have plagued the Sox this season: Josh Beckett has an injured side muscle, J.D. Drew and Mike Lowell have both been in and out of the line-up with injuries so I’m not sure how healthy Boston will be. Given that the Angels are home and healthy, plus have had three weeks plus to prepare for “Red October”, they should be ready to roll tonight.