LA Angels Series Preview: Albert Pujols returns to St. Louis

Griffin Canning, Felix Pena, and Tyler Skaggs need to continue their strong pitching in this series to cap a successful road trip.

The Angels starting has been much-improved as of late despite Andrew Heaney and Jose Suarez the past two games.  Griffin Canning has been great since coming up from the minors and Felix Pena was stellar in his last start as was Tyler Skaggs.

If these three starters can continue to pitch well this weekend and beyond it will go a long way in getting the Angels back to the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.

Canning will face Michael Wacha in the first game. Wacha has been one of the Cardinals young arms that they have been hoping will turn into an ace, but he has struggled this season.  Hopefully the Angels can take advantage of this.

In game two Pena faces Cardinals rising star Dakota Hudson who has been a pleasant for the Redbirds this season.  We will see how the Angels handle him as no one the current team has ever faced him.

Finally on Sunday Tyler Skaggs will face last year’s ace for the Cardinals Miles Mikolas. Mikolas was 18-4 wth a 2.83 ERA which helped him to finish sixth in the Cy Young balloting. This year Mikolas has slumped to 5-7 with a 4.48 ERA.  Skaggs is also a pitcher that can be great, but can also be inconsistent.

If Skaggs can pitch like his last outing in Toronto the Angels will have a good chance to win the series finale.

Overall the Angels need this series to go well to help keep the momentum they have built up in recent weeks and hopefully keep charging toward a playoff berth.