LA Angels To Play in Home Opener Tonight

The LA Angels started their season with a four-game split. The won two and dropped two against the division rival Oakland Athletics. However, the Angels now return to the Big A for their first home game of the year.

The LA Angels team that played at the Big A on October 2, their last home game, and the LA Angels team that will play tonight are extremely different. One just has to look at the starting pitcher to realize this. Veteran pitcher Jesse Chavez, Riverside Community College alumni from Fontana, will be making his first start for the Angels tonight. He will be facing Robinson Cano and the Seattle Mariners.

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Chavez spent 2016 as a relief pitcher, a move that ended with him on multiple ballclubs and with a 4.43 ERA on the year. In 2015, his last year as a starter, he was slightly more effective. He held a 4.18 ERA for the A’s that season. An encouraging sign for his Angels debut tonight is that Chavez does not give up the longball very often.

He allows a single homerun per nine innings. While this is not a great number, it is encouraging when he pitches in a pitchers’ ballpark like the Big A. Chavez likes to put the ball in play for his fielders. He is effective at producing ground balls. With a defense as good as the Angels’ it is very likely Chavez could find success.

A team like the Mariners, who loves to drive the ball deep, may strike once or twice against Chavez, but if he can get them to make mistakes and put the ball on the ground he will be able to control the tempo of the game.

The Angels will be looking to get this weekend series off to a good start tonight against the Mariners. They will be facing Yovani Gallardo in his first start of 2017. He had a disastrous 2017, owning a 5.42 ERA. He has faced the Angels twice in his career, getting no-decision in either game with a collective 7.00 ERA.

Next: Will 2017 be a productive season for the LA Angels

So get there early tonight, grab a hot dog or some nachos, and a beverage of your choice.  Then sit back and hold on tight as the 2017 Angels home season starts tonight.