The Los Angeles Angels were rolling into its series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, having won five of its last six games, but lost its last two.
The Los Angeles Angels had some momentum going after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in their series finale as well as winning back-to-back series over the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays but have lost two straight and seemingly halted its progress.
The Angels took on the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first of three games Monday night and failed to win a pitching battle that heavily favored Los Angeles. The D-Backs defeated the Halos 4-3 after a brilliant pitching performance by right-hander Ryne Nelson, who outdueled Los Angeles’ rookie fireballer Walbert Urena.
Besides allowing an RBI double to right fielder Jo Adell in the first inning and a solo home run off the bat of center fielder Mike Trout in the fifth, Nelson was outstanding. The 28-year-old completed seven innings and allowed two runs on nine hits while striking out five.
Urena, who also pitched seven innings, allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while fanning just three. It was the 22-year-old’s sixth quality start, but he took his fifth loss of the season.
Los Angeles’ offense needs to be more consistent and take advantage of favorable matchups if it wants to battle its way back into contention. It gets another favorable matchup against Arizona’s veteran right-hander Merrill Kelly.
Kelly is 5-5 with a 5.46 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and just 38 strikeouts to 27 walks while allowing 13 home runs through 11 starts (64.1 innings). Aside from allowing seven runs over five innings to the Washington Nationals two starts ago, Kelly has pitched well dating back to May 9.
A few bad outings have ballooned Kelly’s ERA, as he has allowed three runs or less in six of his last eight starts. He last worked against the Miami Marlins and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one in six innings.
The Angels will send lefty strikeout specialist Reid Detmers to duel Kelly and he is coming off an excellent start against the Houston Astros. Detmers tossed seven innings and allowed just one run on one hit while punching out nine in a no-decision effort his last time out.
Detmers is 2-5 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP (14th) and 97 strikeouts (sixth) to 24 walks. The 26-year-old is striking out tons of batters but gives up his fair share of contact.
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
