- What: MLB Regular Season Game
- When: Saturday, July 20
- Who: Los Angeles Angels vs Oakland Athletics
- Time: 4:07 p.m. ET
- Where: Oakland Coliseum (Oakland, CA)
The Los Angeles Angels return to the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California, for the second game of their series against the Oakland Athletics.
Los Angeles Angels
Despite a challenging season leading to a 41-55 record, the Angels have won four of their last five games.
Their offense has faltered, and their pitching ranks among the worst in MLB. Key players like Taylor Ward, Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe, Mike Trout, and Anthony Rendon have attempted to bolster the struggling offense.
Tyler Anderson and Jose Soriano have performed well on the mound, but the pitching staff has struggled with consistency overall. The outlook for the second half of the season remains bleak.
The Angels will send Griffin Canning to the mound. He has a 3-9 record, a 4.84 ERA, and a 1.39 WHIP. In 102.1 innings, he has allowed 59 runs on 106 hits with 36 walks and 70 strikeouts.
Zach attack ⚡️#RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/VOUb2ECvVA
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) July 20, 2024
The Angels are 6-13 in Canning’s 19 starts this season. Canning has struggled on the mound and is considered one of the weaker links in the pitching staff. However, he faces a favorable matchup against Oakland’s weak offense.
Offensively, the Angels have also struggled, ranking 23rd in team batting average at .235, down from .254 last season.
The offense is led by Logan O’Hoppe, Taylor Ward, and Luis Rengifo in most batting categories.
O’Hoppe leads with a .276 batting average, a .328 OBP, and 80 total hits. Ward leads in RBIs with 44, while Jo Adell tops in home runs with 15.
The Angels’ offense faces an interesting matchup against Mitch Spence, who has also shown inconsistency on the mound for the Athletics.
Oakland Athletics
The Athletics have had a rough season, posting a 37-61 record. Both their offense and pitching have struggled, placing them near the bottom of the MLB rankings.
Despite these challenges, players like JJ Bleday, Abraham Toro, Shea Langeliers, and Brent Rooker have stood out.
JP Sears has been solid on the mound, while Hogan Harris and Paul Blackburn have been decent for an otherwise struggling pitching staff. Overall, the Athletics are one of the worst teams in the league.
Day baseball ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/12A11uJj8U
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) July 20, 2024
Looking ahead to the upcoming game, Mitch Spence will take the Athletics mound. Despite his 5-6 record, 4.75 ERA, and 1.32 WHIP, Spence can potentially turn the game in the Athletics’ favor.
This season, he has allowed 46 runs on 87 hits, with 23 walks and 72 strikeouts over 83.1 innings. In his 22 starts, the Athletics have won 7 and lost 15.
Spence’s struggle with consistency could be overcome in the upcoming game, especially considering the favorable matchup against the Angels, who have also been inconsistent offensively.
Despite the Athletics’ abysmal offense, ranking third-worst in the MLB this season, there is a glimmer of hope. They are 28th in team batting average at .227, a slight improvement from their league-worst .222 last season.
Brent Rooker leads the team in most batting categories, boasting a .291 batting average, 21 home runs, 62 RBIs, a .369 OBP, and 88 total hits.
Angels-A’s Best Bet
While the Athletics have struggled, they might have an edge against Griffin Canning, who has also faced his own challenges on the mound. This potential advantage could be a turning point for the Athletics in the upcoming game.
Both teams have had their share of struggles this season.
The pitching difference is marginal, whether the Angels go with Canning or use their bullpen, compared to Spence for the Athletics.
Jo gets us on the board! ????#RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/xEuV9ahP4x
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) July 20, 2024
The key difference could be the Angels’ offense, which has been performing better recently compared to the Athletics’ continued struggles.
This game should be close, but the Angels have the better record and should finally win one on the road
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