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Padres at Angel Stadium for First Time Since ’09

By Nick Lee |
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Apr 20, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; General view of Angel Stadium of Anaheim before the MLB game between the Oakland Athletics and the Los Angeles Angels. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres (21-24) head to Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels (22-22). They will play in Angel Stadium for the first time since 2009. The Friars are 1-4 in two interleague series so far this season after getting swept by the Houston Astros and splitting a two-game series in Seattle with the Mariners.

The Angels come home after losing a series to the Boston Red Sox on the road. The Angels have had trouble scoring runs this year. They average 3.8 runs per game, which is the third worst in the American League and 26th overall. They are also last in the American League with a .231 average.

The Friars head into this series having lost three consecutive series. They didn’t have to travel far after finishing up a series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sunday’s game was encouraging for a Padres team that has been in a tailspin. They scored 11 runs on 20 hits, which tied a season high. This is after scoring just one run in the previous two games of that series.

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May 20, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross (38) pitches during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1 Monday, 6:05pm

Tyson Ross (2-4, 3.93 ERA) vs. Jered Weaver (3-4, 4.37 ERA)

Ross got a loss his last time out against the Chicago Cubs. He allowed three runs with 8 strikeouts. In his days with the Oakland Athletics, Ross has faced the Angels before. In 4 starts he has a 1.78 ERA. Most of his experience has come at Angels Stadium.

Weaver has been considered the ace of the Angels staff for years. His stuff has declined but he has become a savvy veteran pitcher. He has pitched at least 7 innings in his last three starts. He has won in three straight starts. He has a 1.13 ERA in two career starts against the Padres.

He has Derek Norris’ number, who is hitting .165 off of him in 9 plate appearances. Will Middlebrooks is 2 for 5 off of him.

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May 7, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Game 2 Tuesday, 7:05pm

Odrisamer Despaigne (2-3, 6.11 ERA) vs. Matt Shoemaker (3-4, 6.29 ERA)

Despaigne is coming off of one of his better starts this season. He pitched 6 innings and only allowed two runs. That was a great improvement from his previous two starts when he allowed 8 and 7 runs respectively. Despaigne has never pitched at Angel Stadium nor ever faced the Angels.

Shoemaker is in his second year in the Angels rotation. He put up a 16-4 record in 2014. Shoemaker is facing the Padres for the first time. He has a 2.25 ERA in 3 career interleague starts.

The Padres will have to be careful of Mike Trout. He, as usual, has been on a tear hitting .417 in the last week with a home run. The only Padres with really any experience against Shoemaker are Norris and Middlebrooks. They are a combined 3 for 6.

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May 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Andrew Cashner throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3 Wednesday, 7:05pm

Andrew Cashner (1-7, 2.89 ERA) vs. Garrett Richards (4-2, 2.98 ERA)

Cashner has been the epitome of bad luck this season. He leads the major leagues in losses but has an ERA below 3. He yet again pitched well enough to get the win last time out as he didn’t allow a single earned run while striking out 3 in 5 innings. Cashner has faced the Angels 3 times as a reliever, pitching 3 scoreless innings against them.

Richards was touched up for 5 runs in 6 innings in his last start against the Red Sox. He missed the first few weeks of the season with an injury. Last year, he put up ace-like numbers going 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA and 164 strikeouts. Richards has never faced the Padres.

This is a key series for the Padres to get on track. The Angels have holes in their roster but they are still dangerous. I am predicting a series win for the Padres as a momentum swing to get back in the race in the NL West.

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