It’s Opening Day: Your Angels are in Cincinnati and Ready to Kill it

Mar 29, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

So it’s finally here. Real for actual baseball. No more free agent rumours. No more meaningless spring training games and reports about players being in the best shape of their lives. No more speculation and prediction-making. From today until the end of October, there will be meaningful baseball on virtually every day and with any luck at all, your Los Angeles Angels o’ Anaheim will be playing until the very end.

In just two hours, your Angels will take the field in Cincinnati to take on the defending National League Central champion Reds. It’s the first game of a three-game set that will continue on Wednesday night with a weather day tomorrow in case things get really crappy today.

As you all know, expectations are once again sky-high in Anaheim, but let’s all try to remember that it’s a long season. If the Angels stumble out of the gate, it’s important not to panic and if they bust out like gangbusters, it’s important not to anoint them World Series champs in April. Without further adieu, I present your Los Angeles Angels starting lineup for today’s season opener

CF Mike Trout
SS Erick Aybar
1B Albert Pujols
RF Josh Hamilton
LF Mark Trumbo
2B Howie Kendrick
3B Alberto Callaspo
C Chris Iannetta
P Jered Weaver

You’ll note that Trumbo is playing left field which is normally earmarked for Mike Trout who is in center, replacing Peter Bourjos. This is, of course, due to the absence of the DH in a National League park and is probably something you’ll see often when no DH is needed. In this case, Mike Scioscia and the Angels are banking on Trumbo’s offense being worth more than Bourjos’ defense and although I’d normally disagree with that assessment, in a small outfield like the one at Great American Ballpark, it’s probably accurate.

Everything else is as it should be in the Angels’ lineup. Jered Weaver will make his fourth consecutive Opening Day start for the Angels—his fifth overall.

After tonight’s game, look for a full recap here on HH!