Red Sox Series Preview: 2nd Half Angels

Jul 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; American League third baseman Brock Holt (26) of the Boston Red Sox scores against the National League during the seventh inning of the 2015 MLB All Star Game at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox are coming out of the break with some optimism.  They were punched in the stomach somewhat by a Sunday loss to the Yankees in a winnable game.  Still, the team won four in a row, and five of seven before going into the break.  At 42-47, the Red Sox are still only six and a half games out of first.  The Sox can look to last year when the Royals were 50-50 at the 100 game mark and went to the World Series.  Like the Royals, the Red Sox need shutdown performances from their pitchers to get back to .500 and really in the middle of the playoff hunt rather than just lurking at the edge.

The Los Angeles Angels have been on a hot streak lately.  Winners of their last 11 of 14 games, they lead the American League West by a half game, taking advantage of a six game losing streak by the Houston Astros before the break.  Led by back to back All-Star MVP Mike Trout and three time league National League MVP Albert Pujols, their offense is clicking on all cylinders.  In July, the team has averaged 7.6 runs a game in ten games, including four times hitting double digits.

Let’s take a closer look at the four game Red Sox series with the Angels, which gets underway Friday night at 10:05 Eastern time in Anaheim, California.

Jul 10, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Hector Santiago (53) throws out a pitch against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching Matchups:

Friday, July 17, 10:05 p.m.:

Wade Miley (8-8, 4.80) vs. C.J. Wilson (7-7, 3.83)

Miley has struggled over his last three starts, posting a 6.88 ERA over that span. After a terrible April (8.62 ERA), he seemed to be righting the ship with ERAs of 3.49 and 3.30 for May and June before his recent difficulties. On May 24, Miley had his longest and perhaps best start of the year going eight innings, allowing just one run to secure the victory. This was Miley’s only career start vs. the Angels.

Wilson has had success in his career against the Red Sox, (6-4, 2.88) in 23 games including 11 starts, striking out 73 over 78 career innings. 2015 has been just adequate for the former Texas Rangers left-hander. He posted a 3.18 ERA through May, but since then it has been 4.68. Wilson has won four of his last six starts, but three times since June 1 has allowed five earned runs in a start. His walks are down this year, three per nine innings vs. his career avg of 3.8.

Saturday, July 18, 9:05 p.m. :
Rick Porcello (5-9, 5.90) vs. Garrett Richards (9-6, 3.53)

Porcello’s struggles have been well-documented. The right-hander had lost his previous seven decisions before winning his last start with a six inning, two earned run allowed effort in which the quick stab of a comebacker ended a Miami rally which seemed destined to tie that game. The 14 ground balls he induced in that start is encouraging for the sinkerball pitcher who had given up that many since his first start of the year. Porcello has struggled mightily against the Angels in his career (4-5, 7.07) with a 1.59 WHIP over 63.2 career innings.

Richards was on a five start run in which he went 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA before getting knocked around by Seattle for four earned runs and 12 hits in his last start before the break. The talented right hander is stingy giving up home runs, leading the American League last season in that category before a leg injury at Fenway Park.prematurely ended his season. This year he has given up eight in 99 innings. Richards is 1-0 with a 6.05 ERA over 19.1 career innings vs. Boston.

Sunday, July 19, 8:05 p.m. :
Eduardo Rodriguez (5-2, 3.59) vs. Hector Santiago (6-4, 2.33)

Rodriguez has yet to face the Angels in this, his rookie season. Over two starts vs. the American League West, he is 1-0 with one earned run allowed in 12.1 innings. The promising lefty has allowed one or fewer runs in six of his nine career starts. E-Rod has been remarkable in his four starts away from home this season, allowing just two runs and 16 hits over 26 innings (3-0, 0.69)

Santiago was an All-Star for the first time this season. He has been consistently good this season, allowing one or fewer earned runs in 12 of his 18 starts. The left-hander had the bad fortune to be the Angels pitcher in the May 24 game in which Miley shut the Angels down. In that game, Santiago gave up three earned runs and seven hits over 6.2 innings, but took the loss that day. The 30th round draft choice of the White Sox in 2006 has a 3.91 career ERA in 25.1 innings against the Red Sox.

Monday, July 20, 10:05 p.m. :
TBD–no pitchers officially announced at this writing

Likely candidates for the Angels are Matt Shoemaker (4-7, 4.85) and rookie lefthander Andrew Heaney (3-0, 1.32). Considering Shoemaker pitched out of the bullpen in Heaney’s last start, unless they were just trying to get Shoemaker work, Heaney seems the more likely candidate. Heaney has been spectacular in his four starts this year for the Angels. In 2014, Heaney was 0-3 with a 5.83 ERA for the Marlins. A 2012 first round draft choice by the Marlins, he was sent to the Dodgers last season as part of the Dan Haren/Dee Gordon deal. He was then flipped straight up to the Angels for Howie Kendrick. Considering Kendrick is a veteran player, you can see how he is regarded by the Angels. Heaney has never faced the Red Sox.

Recently called up rookie left-hander Brian Johnson would be the prime candidate for the Red Sox, since presumably he took Clay Buchholz place in the rotation. Johnson posted a 2.73 ERA in 16 starts this season at AAA Pawtucket. Steven Wright (3-2, 4.15) is also a candidate to make his fifth start of the season. Wright has a 3.13 ERA over his four starts this season.

Jul 11, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) turns a double play as New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) slides during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports

Red Sox Players to Watch:

Xander Bogaerts (.304/.338/.411) is the hottest hitter on the Red Sox right now.  He has hit in ten straight games, which have all come in July, at a ..396/.422/.465 clip, during which he has knocked in ten runs.  Going back to the beginning of June, he is hitting .336 over that span.  Hitting with runners in scoring position (RISP), which was the bugaboo of the offense earlier in the season, has been Bogaerts’ strength all season.  A recent hot streak in that situation has given the Aruban shortstop a .392/.403/.541 batting line for the season with RISP.  Bogaerts leads the team in hits, and is tied for second on the club in RBI, despite only hitting three home runs on the season.

A big question for the second half of the season is whether Dustin Pedroia (.306/.367/.452) will be able to come back from the hamstring injury that has sidelined him since June 24. This season has been Pedroia’s best offensively since 2011. The Laser Show has had something of a comeback season after two down seasons because of hand injuries that plagued him throughout these campaigns. Before his injury, Pedroia posted a .350/.402/.500 batting line in June. The Red Sox hope Pedroia can come back to a lineup that has been producing of late much better than earlier in the season.

Aug 10, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun hits a double against the Boston Red Sox in the 3rd inning during the game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Angels Players to Watch:

Kole Calhoun has become a key run producer in the Angels lineup this season. His 47 RBI rank third on the team behind superstars Trout and Pujols. The Arizona State product has posted at least 11 RBI in each month of the season, already hitting that mark for July in which he has a .905 OPS. Calhoun has been particularly effective with runners in scoring position, slashing .338/.398/.563 in those crucial situations. The Angels right fielder is someone the Red Sox pitching staff needs to be very careful with runners on base.

Albert Pujols has returned to his previous level of National League production behind a torrid June. After pounding eight home runs in May, Pujols broke out in June to the tune of 13 home runs and 26 RBI and a remarkable .303/.395/.737 batting line. The home run derby participant has slowed down in July, posting just a .190/.261/.357 batting line while hitting two home runs. The Red Sox are hoping they catch him when he was not so hot, though in this four game series, he is bound to do some damage.