Halos Look To Build On Win Streak

Despite the controversial overturning of a Mike Trout home run, the Los Angeles Angels finished Monday night’s series opener with the Oakland A’s smiling.

Division rivals meet Tuesday as the Los Angeles Angels  host the Oakland Athletics  in the second game of a three-game set in Anaheim, Calif.

First pitch at Angel Stadium of Anaheim is scheduled for 10:05 p.m. ET.

Oakland (39-25, 22-13 road) and Los Angeles (35-28, 19-13 home) currently rank as two of the top three teams in the American League, with the A’s holding a four-game edge over their Californian rivals in the win column.

The series started with fireworks on Monday, but not the type either club would have been happy to have seen.

The A’s took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning before the Angels reeled off solo runs in the third, fourth and fifth. The fifth inning run came off Mike Trout’s ground rule double, which was initially called a home run but overturned by replay. Manager Mike Scioscia was ejected for arguing the play.

The Angels added an insurance run in the eighth to finish the game with a 4-1 victory, just the club’s second win (in seven games) over Oakland this season.

A’s third baseman Josh Donaldson had a night to forget in what turned out to be a scrappy game for the road team, going 0-for-4 at the plate and making three throwing errors. The potential All-Star has now made 12 errors on the season.

Garret Richards (6-2) registered the win for the home side, while Jesse Chavez (5-4) was handed the loss.

Now the two teams will take to the field again on Tuesday night.

Mike Trout will be looking to continue his recent run of good form against the A’s. Trout has gone 8-for-19 with three doubles, a pair of home runs, and seven RBIs in his last four games against Oakland.

The Angels may find the going tough on Tuesday though. With scheduled starter Tyler Skaggs heading for the DL, Scioscia has recalled Hector Santiago (0-6, 4.82 ERA) from Triple-A Salt Lake.

Santiago had a rough start to the year, allowing an ERA of 5.19 in six starts before being relegated to the bullpen. Things haven’t gotten better since. The 26-year-old right-hander recorded a 6.43 ERA in three starts in Triple-A. He’ll need to turn things around if the Angels are to have any success.

Oakland will send Drew Pomeranz (5-3, 2.20 ERA) to the mound. Pomeranz has had a very good season so far.

Since being named a starter six games ago, the 25-year-old leftie has gone 4-2 with a 2.30 ERA. Hes allowed just nine runs (eight earned) in 31 1/3 innings, striking out 31 and walking 12 in the process. In his last outing, he allowed just two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out six, but ultimately came up short against Masahiro Tananka and the New York Yankees.

Oakland is 26-19 against right-handed pitching this season, while the Angels are 15-10 versus left-handed pitching.

Oakland’s Drew Pomeranz has had an outstanding season so far.

Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels odds for 06/10/2014

Oakland (-107) opened as a very narrow favorite over Los Angeles (-103), but the uncertainty in the Angels’ pitching means that you can find either team favored depending on which sportsbook you visit.

Expect this line to be anything but static over the next few hours.

The Athletics are 7-3 over their last 10 games, while the Angels have won a season-best four straight and five of six. Oakland is 4-3 on its current road trip, while Los Angeles has won 11 of its last 13 home games.

Oakland is 18-12 against division opponents this season, while the Angels are 12-17.

Oakland is 5-2 against Los Angeles this season, but just 2-2 when playing in Anaheim.

The over/under sits at 8 1/2.

The total has gone over in five of the last six head-to-head meetings, but under in seven of the last 10 the two clubs have played in Anaheim, including Monday’s series opener.

With Pomeranz taking the mound for Oakland, don’t expect the Angels to score a lot of runs. Santiago has the potential to give up a whole bunch though, which probably makes the over the smarter bet.

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The two division rivals will wrap up the series on Wednesday (10:05 p.m. ET). Afterwards, the Angels will commence a seven-game road trip with a series against the Atlanta Braves.

Meanwhile, the Athletics will return to the Bay Area for a 10-game homestand that includes visits from the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox.

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