The Los Angeles Angels are set to face off against the San Diego Padres for a three-game series starting on Monday at 6:40 p.m. The games will be streamed on Padres.TV, providing fans with easy access to watch the matchup.
As it stands, the Angels have had a rough start to the season, currently sitting at 16-23 and in fifth place in the American League West. They have struggled recently, losing six of their last ten games and finishing the month of April with a disappointing 9-16 record. The team’s run differential, currently at minus-65, is one of the worst in the league.
In contrast, the Padres are enjoying a solid season with a record of 25-14, placing them second in the National League West. They recently concluded a successful road trip with a record of 6-3, yet they find themselves trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the majors. Historically, the Padres have had issues in Anaheim, where they were swept in a three-game series last year. However, they have an impressive home record of 14-4 this season.
Highlighting player performances, Angels outfielder Jo Adell has emerged as a key contributor, hitting three homers over the last six games with an impressive 1.118 OPS. However, the Angels’ overall batting struggles are evident, as they rank 26th in OPS and last in on-base percentage. Meanwhile, the Padres are seeing strong performances from DH Gavin Sheets, who leads the team with seven RBIs over the past week.
The pitching matchups are as follows:
– **Monday**: Angels’ Yusei Kikuchi (0-4, 3.83 ERA) faces Padres’ Michael King (4-1, 2.22 ERA). Kikuchi has struggled against the Padres in the past, while King has been in great form recently, allowing no more than two earned runs in his last five starts.
– **Tuesday**: Jose Soriano (2-4, 4.00 ERA) for the Angels will go against Dylan Cease (1-2, 4.91 ERA) for the Padres, with both pitchers looking to regain their form.
– **Wednesday**: Kyle Hendricks (1-4, 5.30 ERA) represents the Angels, while Randy Vásquez (2-3, 3.76 ERA) takes the mound for the Padres.
In terms of rosters, the Angels are dealing with significant injuries, including the absence of superstar Mike Trout, who is hopeful for a return soon from a knee injury. In contrast, the Padres are managing some day-to-day injuries, including Jackson Merrill’s illness, but have more players nearing returns, such as Yu Darvish, which could strengthen their lineup going forward.
This series presents a vital opportunity for the Angels to turn their season around against a strong Padres team, offering fans hope for improvement and excitement in the upcoming games. The ongoing battle may serve as a catalyst for rebuilding momentum for the Angels and solidifying the Padres’ position in the standings.