Jered Weaver Prepares for Chicago After Disastrous Road Trip

Jun 1, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver (36) reacts after giving up a run against the Oakland Athletics in the sixth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Angels 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Home cooking is just what the Los Angeles Angels need right about now. Their 3-7 road trip cultivated with an 8-5 loss at Houston last night, dropping the Halos into a second-place tie with Seattle.

Tyler Skaggs lost a third straight decision and the Angels offense only mustered three runs against Brad Peacock, who entered the contest with a 1-4 record. A ninth-inning rally fell short when Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, each batting as the tying run, couldn’t get the ball out of the infield.

Jose Abreu and the Chicago White Sox begin their only series at Angel Stadium tonight. Each team carries an offense ranking at or near the top of major American League categories; including home runs where the Angels and White Sox are tied (63 each).

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Pitching Matchup– Jered Weaver (6-4, 3.33 ERA) vs. Andre Rienzo (4-2, 4.26 ERA)

The month of May was very good to Jered Weaver. He went 4-1 with 1.98 ERA, 27 strikeouts, and his first complete game in over two years. His .172 opponent batting average allowed was the lowest since May 2012.

June hasn’t been as prosperous. Weaver went toe-to-toe with AL Cy Young contender Sonny Gray and gave up five runs on a season-high 11 hits in earning his first loss since May 16. It was an anomaly for Weaver, especially after yielded just two runs over the previous 44 1/3 innings against Oakland.

Though he hasn’t face the White Sox since 2012, Weaver boasts a 7-2 record with a 1.59 ERA against the “South Siders.” His 5.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio against Chicago is the best against any AL Central team.

Brazil-native Andre Rienzo has been a bright spot in Chicago’s spotty rotation. He won his first four decisions, and could have won the next, had the White Sox given him more than three runs per start. On May 25, Rienzo allowed two runs over five innings to New York, but was bested by AL-ERA leader Masahiro Tanaka.

Rienzo makes his first-ever appearance against the Angels.

Walk offs:

1. Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton, and Howie Kendrick went a combined 0-for-12 yesterday.
2. The Angels won four of seven meeting against Chicago last season.
3. Mike Trout went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI in his first full game since May 30.

TV: 7:05 p.m. PT, Fox Sports West, CSN

Radio: KLAA 830, WSCR 670 (Chicago)