Angels Report 9/16

Anaheim Angels 94-55 - First Place in the AL West

LATEST TEAM INFO

It seems that the Angels are a lock for the playoffs, weither it be as the AL West Champs or as the wild card, and for the first time this season they took complete control of the AL West. All season long they have shared first place with the Mariners or the A's. They are all by them selves at the top. The Angels set a club record with their 94th win, beating the Rangers 13-4 on Sept. 15.

Tonight the Angels aim for their seventh strait win as they open a four game series at Oakland that can decide the AL West. The Angels and A's faced each other in a four-game series last week at Anaheim and the Angels won the final three games of the series. Oakland took two of three games against Seattle over the weekend while Anaheim swept a three-game set with Texas, giving the first-place Angels a one-game lead.

John Lackey is going to be starting for the Angels in the opening game of this very crucial series for the Angels. The right-hander is 6-1 with a 4.35 ERA in his last eight starts for the Angels. The last time Lackey faced the A's he allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings but did not get the decision as the Angels pulled out a 6-5 victory.

The Angels are in great shape to make the playoff, regardless of what their past shows. Their magic number for clinching a playoff spot is six games. It would be the franchise's first postseason berth in 16 years.

PLAYER UPDATES

Adam Kennedy- He missed Sunday's game because of the flu. It is nothing serious and will be back in the lineup. Kennedy has been the Angels hottest hitter as of late and the most improved second baseman of the second half of the season. He is hitting over .400 with five home runs and 19 RBI over the last 30 days. He is currently the team leader batting .323 this season.

David Eckstein- Over the last month of the season he has been hitting .388. The middle infield of the Angles has been smacking the ball all over the place recently. He and Kennedy have been the Angels hottest hitters lately.

Troy Glaus- He homered three times in a game for the first time in his career as Anaheim completed the sweep of the Rangers with a 13-4 rout Sunday night. Glaus connected in the fifth, seventh and eight innings and matched a career high with six RBI.

Garret Anderson- He is the best hitter for the Angles and over the last month he is hitting .330 with six home runs and 24 RBI. Finally in his career Anderson is getting some credit for his great hitting. Here is a great article written about the Angles stud outfielder. ANDERSON STORY

Ramon Ortiz- He has been the Angels most solid pitcher this last month of the season. He has four wins with an ERA of 2.55. The Angles are going to continue to win if Ortiz can stay as solid as he has been.

Kevin Appier- He is 4-1 with an ERA of 2.97 this month. He has been pitching the way everyone has vissioned him to pitch all year lately. He has been huge to the huge rise of the Angles of late.

John Lackey- The Angels stud rookie pitcher is 8-3 with a 3.65 ERA this year. He opens possible the most important series in Angels history tonight against the A's. He did not pitch well the last time he faced the A's, even though the Angels did receive the victory.

Troy Percival- In his last 13 games he has anchored the one of the best bull pens in the league. He has an ERA of 1.32 with 10 saves this month. Having a closer as good as Percival is going to be key to making the playoffs and serving in the playoffs.

INJURY REPORT

Shortstop David Eckstein, second baseman Adam Kennedy and outfielder Garret Anderson are all available to return to the lineup for the Angels. Eckstein was out with a sore hip flexor and Anderson has sore hamstring and they were both given Sunday off to rest their injuries. Kennedy was out Sunday with flu-like symptoms.

PITCHING MATCH-UPS

9/16 @Oakland - Lackey (8-3) Lidle (8-10)
9/17 @Oakland - Callaway (1-0) Mulder (17-7)
9/18 @Oakland - Washburn (18-5) Zito (21-5)
9/19 @Oakland - Appier (14-10) Hudson (14-9)

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