Halos Take on Kazmir
Los Angeles Angels starter John Lackey has always been dominant against Tampa Bay, but he’s never had to go up against Rays ace Scott Kazmir.
Both pitchers look to continue their outstanding seasons Wednesday when the Angels (40-26) try to capture an eighth straight series as they complete their three-game set with the Rays in Anaheim.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made Los Angeles -117 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 7 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 50% of bets for this game have been placed on Los Angeles -117 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Lackey (2-1, 1.70 ERA) is 8-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 10 career starts against Tampa Bay, including 6-0 with a 1.38 ERA in seven home starts with six straight victories.
However, the Rays (38-27) are enjoying their best season in franchise history thanks in part to their starting pitching and Kazmir (6-1, 1.40) in particular. The 24-year-old left-hander has won six straight starts, posting a 0.88 ERA with 39 strikeouts in that span.
Kazmir missed the first month of the season with a left elbow strain. He’s slowly been working deeper and deeper in games, throwing a season-high 111 pitches in eight innings in his longest 2008 outing last Friday to earn a 12-4 win at Texas.
"We scored a lot of runs, but it was all about Kaz," manager Joe Maddon said. "The way he pitched against that team kept us in the game and allowed us to get all those runs late. He was able to throw strikes when he wanted to. I loved his composure. He was in command."
Kazmir is 2-1 with a 3.26 ERA in three career starts against the Angels, but has never pitched against them on the road.
Like Kazmir, Lackey did not pitch in April after missing the first six weeks of the season with a strained right triceps, but he has been outstanding since returning. Lackey has pitched at least seven innings in all five of his starts, allowing one earned run in four of them.
The right-hander won last Friday by giving up one run in seven innings in a 3-1 victory at Oakland, striking out five and walking none.
"It feels good, definitely," Lackey said. "When you miss as much time as I have you want to make every one count because you only have limited opportunities."
Lackey and Kazmir have excelled against left-handed hitters this season, with the Angels starter limiting them to a .111 average and his Rays counterpart holding them to a .132 average.
It means that Los Angeles veteran Garret Anderson, who has never faced Kazmir, may be a candidate for a day off. The left-handed hitter is mired in a 4-for-33 slump (.121) over his last eight games, but hit a two-run homer in Tuesday’s 6-1 win.
The Angels won for the first time in five tries against the Rays this season Tuesday as Vladimir Guerrero also hit a two-run homer. Jered Weaver earned the win by giving up one run and four hits over eight innings.
Los Angeles hasn’t lost a series since getting swept at Tampa Bay from May 9-11. The Rays have lost five of eight overall and nine of their last 10 games in Anaheim.
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