Angels at Rockies
The Los Angeles Angels are hitting their best stride and it's no surprise that their All-Stars - Mike Trout and Albert Pujols - are leading the way. Los Angeles tries for its fifth straight victory while continuing its mastery of Colorado when it visits the Rockies on Wednesday in the finale of a two-game series.
The Angels defeated Colorado for the eighth straight time, 10-2 on Tuesday behind three-run homers from Trout and Pujols to move within 2 1/2 games of first-place Houston in the American League West. Los Angeles has won nine of its last 10 games and outscored the opponent 43-10 during its four-game winning streak. The last-place Rockies, who have lost five of their last six games and eight of 10, are 1-9 in interleague contests this season with three of the losses to the Angels. Los Angeles' Matt Shoemaker owns a four-start winless streak (0-3) and opposes Chris Rusin, who is undefeated in two turns at home.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), ROOT (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Matt Shoemaker (4-7, 4.91 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Chris Rusin (3-3, 4.27)
Shoemaker yielded two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 3-1 loss to the New York Yankees on July 1 as Los Angeles scored one run in each of his last three losses. The 28-year-old Michigan native, who also allowed two runs and seven hits in a 3-1 setback to Seattle on June 26, has won only once in his last eight appearances - an 8-2 victory at Tampa Bay on June 9 to improve to 4-1 on the road this season. Shoemaker is 2-2 with a 1.67 ERA in four interleague starts and faces Colorado for the first time.
Rusin permitted three runs (one earned), six hits and struck out six in six innings of an 8-1 loss at Arizona on Thursday. The 28-year-old Michigan native yielded six earned runs in his last three starts covering 18 1/3 innings, but only has one win to show for it - a 10-4 verdict over Milwaukee on June 21. Rusin, who has never faced Los Angeles, is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA at Coors Field.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pujols on Tuesday hit his 54th interleague home run - most among active players - and set a franchise record for homers prior to the All-Star Game with his AL-leading 26th.
2. Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki has a 19-game hitting streak and 34-game on-base streak - both career highs and longest active runs in the majors.
3. The Angels are 29-0 when allowing two runs or fewer.