Page’s Weekly LA Angels Predictions: Week Two

The LA Angels had a great start to their season. They went 5-2 in their first week of play. They split a series with the Oakland A’s and swept the Seattle Mariners in a weekend series.

The LA Angels gave the fans a lot of great baseball to watch this past week. They scored an average of five runs per game, an excellent pace for a team who many thought didn’t do enough this offseason to improve a lackluster offense. Of course it is early, but for an Angels organization that usually starts the season off extremely slow, it is an encouraging sign to see the squad playing like this.

Player of the Week- Yunel Escobar

No, I did not misspell Mike Trout. What seems like an easy pick turned out to be an undeserving one. Trout had a great week, but only hit .280. For the reigning MVP, more is expected out of him. That is why Escobar is this weeks position player champion. He hit an outstanding .414 with four RBI’s and a home run as the leadoff hitter. To go with that, he only struck out three times in 29 at-bats to go with two walks. He gave the stars behind him a runner to bring in, proven by his eight runs scored.

Pitcher of the Week- Cam Bedrosian

While starting pitchers Ricky Nolasco, Garrett Richards, and Jesse Chavez all had excellent outings this week, it is closing pitcher Cam Bedrosian who takes the title of the Angels’ best opening week pitcher. He only had two appearances, but was absolutely shutdown in his 2.2 innings of work. He shutdown the Oakland A’s in his first appearance of the season. Bedrosian retired the side on 14 pitches, striking out one. He earned his first save of the season, second of his career.

While his first outing was good, his second was absolutely phenomenal. He came in during the eighth inning of a game against the Mariners, with the Angels up 5-4. He finished the inning, striking out one while allowing a hit. It looked like his day was over but Mike Scioscia decided to shock everyone when he sent Bedrosian, with his 18 pitches, out to finish the game. Bedrosian made Scioscia look like a genius when he struck out the side for his second save of the season. It appears Bedrosian has earned the closer role, at least until Huston Street returns.

Wednesday, April 12 vs. Rangers

Probables- A.J Griffin vs. Jesse Chavez

In their first starts against the Mariners last week, each starting pitchers had a very different game than the other. A.J Griffin barely made it to the fourth inning, where he was pulled after giving up four runs thus far. It was not the start Griffin and the Rangers expected, and it may be more of the same in this start.

In 13 starts on the road last season, Griffin went 2-2 with a 5.21 ERA. He has faired slightly better in his eight starts against the Angels though. He owns a 3-2 record with a 4.23 ERA when facing the Halos. Yunel Escobar has given Griffin problems in the past. In 10 career at-bats, Escobar has four hits with a double and an RBI. He also has never been struck out by Griffin. If he is able to get on base to start the game, the Angels’ offense with roll on.

While Griffin did not fair well against the Mariners, Angels’ starter Jesse Chavez went 5.1 innings in his Halo debut, allowing one run with six strikeouts and a walk. After spending 2016 as a relief pitcher, the Angels signed Chavez to compete for a starting job. He won it in Spring Training, and so far has shown it was a great choice. He has faired reasonable well against the Rangers’ best bats in his career. Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre both have sub-.200 batting averages against Chavez. If Chavez can hold the Rangers to three runs through five innings, it is hard to imagine the Rangers winning this one. This game could be the best of the series, and could once again be bullpen heavy.

Prediction- Angels 5, Rangers 4

Thursday, April 13 vs. Rangers

Probables- Yu Darvish vs. Ricky Nolasco

Yu Darvish owns the Angels. He really does. In 13 career starts, he is 7-2 with a 3.78 ERA. While the ERA is not amazing, Darvish simply finds a way to win. He is even better at The Big A, where he is 5-2 with a 2.70 ERA. The Angels’ one hope is that Darvish has not been lights out this season, going 0-1 in two starts with a 3.65 ERA. He was extremely impressive in his last start though, he allowed one run through six innings with four strikeouts. Another thing to remember is that Darvish’s first start came against the Cleveland Indians, who have one of the best offenses in the American League. The Angels only real hope is to get Darvish out of the game early and face a tired bullpen.

Ricky Nolasco takes the mound in the rubber match of the series. He had a great first week of the season despite not picking up a win. In two starts, Nolasco pitched 11.2 innings allowing five runs. He struck out seven and owns a 3.86 ERA going into this start. Nolasco has been roughed up by a couple of newer Rangers. Jonothan Lucroy has a .417 batting average against Nolasco, with an RBI. Nolasco has gotten the better of him a few times though, striking him out twice. Carlos Gomez also has had a nice career against Nolasco. He has a .444 batting average in nine career at-bats. He has a homerun and four RBI’s as well.

This one could get out of hand for the Angels, who will have a tired bullpen by this point of the series.

Prediction- Rangers 8, Angels 2

Friday, April 14 @ Royals

Probables- Danny Duffy vs. Matt Shoemaker

The Angels begin their first road trip of the season in Kansas City, taking on Danny Duffy and the Royals in the first game. Duffy has been phenomenal to start the season. In two games, he has pitched 13 innings allowing only three runs on 11 hits. He has 11 strikeouts while allowing five free bags. The Angels may be able to have some success against Duffy, though. He is a left-handed pitcher, and the Angels have a very right-handed dominant lineup. They will be able to see the ball better this way. Mike Trout is 4-9 in his career against Duffy with a homerun and two RBI’s. He has walked once while striking out twice. If the Angels can consistently get enough runners on base, they might be able to nab this one.

Matt Shoemaker will take the mound for the Halos. It has been a tale of two starts for Shoemaker. In his 2017 debut, he hurled five innings, striking out four and allowing only two runs. However, in his second start, he allowed six runs over 4.1 innings giving up a homerun and two walks while only striking out one batter. Even in his first outing, he allowed two solo shots. The long ball has been a problem for Shoemaker thus far into the season. The Royals don’t usually hit for power, but they have plenty of players who can.

Prediction- Royals 5, Angels 2

Saturday, April 15 @ Royals

Probables- Nathan Karns vs. Yusmeiro Petit

Nathan Karns was roughed up in his first outing of the season. He allowed four runs in less than an innings’ worth of work. However, he came back strong in a start later in the week. He went 5.2 innings and only allowed a single run. Having a great outing like Karns did is a great way to drop your 54.00 ERA to 7.11, which is exactly what he did. Karns has faired relatively well against most Angels’ batters, but Albert Pujols has owned the veteran. He is 4-9 with a homerun and two RBI’s and a double. He also has a walk tacked on against Karns. This game’s outcome will depend on Karns, and what version of him the Angels face on Saturday.

While the Angels have yet to make an official announcement on who will start this game. However, it appears that a spot start for Yusmeiro Petit is the most likely outcome. Petit has been a part-time starter his entire career, and knows how to handle himself when asked to take the mound. He has not seen more than two innings in a game yet this season, but he can throw five good innings as a starter. He has only allowed one hit so far this season in three innings of work. If Petit can get the Angels through the fifth inning with minimal damage, he will have left them in good position to win the game.

In the battle of two spot-starters, Petit will be able to control the Royals lineup enough to lead his team to a win.

Prediction- Angels 6, Royals 3

Sunday, April 15 @ Royals

Probables- Ian Kennedy vs. Tyler Skaggs

In the rubber match of this series, the Angels will face Ian Kennedy. The USC alum has had two solid outings this season. He threw five innings against the Twins in his first start, allowing only three runs. In his second start against Oakland, Kennedy hurled six innings and allowed only two runs. His ERA sits at 4.09 right now. One of the biggest weaknesses of Kennedy’s game is his control. He walked five in his first outing and two in the next one. His strikeout to walk ratio of 9:7 is not very impressive. However, his win total remains at zero mostly because of the lack of run support he has received. In two starts, he has only gotten one run of support total.

Next: Angels wild comeback caps first week

Tyler Skaggs is likely to get his second start of the week. Hopefully he is coming of a solid outing against Texas. He has limited sample size against current Royals hitters, but this could come as an advantage to Skaggs. He has a wide variety of pitches, and often fairs well against hitters who have yet to face him. If he can bring his good curveball to this game, and doesn’t allow it to hang, he will find success against this Royals team.

Prediction- Angels 3, Royals 2