Orioles at Angels
The Los Angeles Angels needed 15 games to finally win back-to-back contests and will go for a three-game sweep of the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. The Albert Pujols’ home run watch continues in earnest. The prize off-season acquisition is 0-for-7 in the series and has gone homerless in his first 61 at-bats with the Angels – the longest drought to start a season in his career. Designated hitter Kendry Morales, who missed nearly two full seasons while recovering from ankle surgery, is 8-for-20 in his last five games.
The Orioles are finishing up a 10-game road trip that started off in promising fashion with five wins in the first seven. They will be looking to avoid another three-game sweep in Anaheim, having been outscored 36-18 by the Angels in the five straight losses. It's unclear if Nolan Reimold will be back in the lineup after sitting out for the second time in three games with neck spasms. Reimold is riding a 10-game hitting streak and had swatted five homers and driven in 10 runs.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (1-0, 3.27 ERA) vs. Angels RH Dan Haren (0-1, 4.76 ERA)
Chen had an inauspicious major league debut when he served up a homer to the first batter (Derek Jeter) he faced en route to getting a no-decision against the Yankees. The Taiwanese southpaw looked more comfortable in his next start, earning his first victory by limiting the Chicago White Sox to two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Haren is seeking his first win, but he pitched much better last time out after opening the season with two shaky starts. He held Oakland to one run in 6 2/3 innings, only to see the bullpen cough up the lead. Haren is 5-3 lifetime with a 4.21 ERA against Baltimore, but he must be wary of J.J. Hardy, who is 4-for-9 with three doubles and four RBIs against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles infielder Mark Reynolds has averaged just over 35 homers and 208 strikeouts the last four years. He has yet to go deep but has fanned 20 times in 13 games.
2. The last time Haren failed to win in his first four starts was 2006
3. Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has hit safely in 13 of 15 games.