Tigers at Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are trying to remain in striking distance of an American League wild-card spot and look to take advantage of the major league-worst Detroit Tigers when they continue a seven-game homestand with the first of three contests on Monday. The Angels avoided a four-game sweep with a 5-4 victory over Baltimore on Sunday thanks to a walk-off homer by rookie Matt Thaiss.
Mike Trout owns 12 homers and 28 RBIs in July, while veteran teammate Albert Pujols belted a two-run homer Sunday and boasts 19 runs batted in this month for Los Angeles (55-52), which is five games out in the race for the AL’s second wild card. The Angels will give the ball to Jaime Barria for his fifth start this season Monday, while the Tigers counter with fellow right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, who hasn't posted a victory in 17 straight appearances. Detroit (30-71) coughed up a two-run lead in the final three innings and dropped a 3-2 decision in 10 innings at Seattle on Sunday for its sixth consecutive loss, 32nd in the last 37 contests and 15th in 16 against AL West opponents in 2019 - the only win coming against Los Angeles. Niko Goodrum homered Sunday and is 10-for-31 during an eight-game hitting streak for the Tigers, while former MVP Miguel Cabrera moved within two doubles of Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez (572) for 25th on major league baseball’s all-time list.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, You Tube
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (0-8, 7.57 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jaime Barria (4-3, 6.63)
Zimmermann is in the midst of his worst month of the season, going 0-3 with a 14.09 ERA in four starts after giving up four runs over 4 1/3 innings against Philadelphia on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Wisconsin native, who owns 94 career victories, last earned a win Sept. 5, 2018, against the Chicago White Sox. Pujols is 4-for-10 with a pair of homers against Zimmermann, who is 0-2 with a 2.70 ERA in two career starts versus the Angels.
Barria earned the victory over the major league-best Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, giving up one run on three hits and two walks over five innings. The 23-year-old native of Panana has allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five outings but served up at least one homer (six total) in each of those appearances. Jeimer Candelario is 1-for-3 with a double versus Barria, who is 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA in four games at home (one start) this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Thaiss is 4-for-10 with four runs, three homers and five RBIs in the last three games after going 3-for-27 in his first nine outings.
2. Detroit RF Nicholas Castellanos is day-to-day after being scratched from Sunday’s lineup due to abdominal tightness.
3. Pujols has 653 career doubles and needs four to match Nap Lajoie for seventh on the league’s all-time list.