Los Angeles Angeles going to get stiff test during homestand

The Los Angeles Angels are off to their best start in franchise history going 13-3 in the first 16 games of the season.  Not to take anything away from what the Angels have done so far, but only three games have been against a playoff team from 2017.

However in the next 12 games the Los Angeles Angels will play the defending World Champion Houston Astros, as well as being their main competition for an AL West title. They will also face the hated Evil Empire, the New York Yankees who were American League runner-up losing in a tough seven game series to the Astros. Finally the Angels will also face the 2017 American League East Champion Boston Red Sox who right now have the best record in the American League at 13-2.

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In addition the Angels will also play the much improved San Francisco Giants as well.  So far this season the Angels have won all five series they have played including sweeping the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals in six straight games going a perfect 6-0 on their most recent road trip.  Overall the Angels are 8-1 on the road this season.

First up for the Angels will be the American League leading Boston Red Sox who will come into the series with a 13-2 record.  Due to Sunday’s postponement in Kansas City Shohei Ohtani will open up the series for the Angels on Tuesday against the Red Sox and he will face Boston’s David Price.  This will be Ohtani’s third start of the season as well as his second home start.  It will be a firm test both for Ohtani and the Angels to see how he does against an offense other than the Oakland A’s.

On Wednesday Tyler Skaggs will take the mound against Rick Porcello and try to build on his solid start in Texas last Wednesday. Finally on Thursday the Angels will have Nick Tropeano pitch in the series finale against Boston.  The Angels will then play three games against the San Francisco Giants in an interleague match-up.

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All the while first baseman Albert Pujols will chasing the 3,000 hit mark.  Going into the homestand The Machine is 12 hits away from hit #3,000.  This will be a nice sub-plot to this homestand as we can watch Albert Pujols try to make history once again.

After the Angels finish this short six-game homestand, they will head on the road to face the defending World Series Champions the Houston Astros.  More than likely Shohei Ohtani will start the opening game of this series in Houston which will be a big statement series for the Angels especially if they hope to contend for an AL West title.

After the Angels return from Houston they will then face the New York Yankees and Ohtani should face them on another Shohei Sunday.  We will see how the rotation shakes out, but this is the likely course the Angels will take after Ohtani’s Sunday start was cancelled against Kansas City.

Next: Albert Pujols closing in on 3,000 hits

If the Angels can compete in these next 12 games and finish with a winning record it will go a long way in establishing themselves as legitimate contenders.  Let’s get ready to rumble!!!