Two Of MLB's Worst Teams Square Off As Angels Host Rockies For Three Games

The Los Angeles Angels are set to host Major League Baseball’s worst team, the Colorado Rockies, after losing two of three to the American League-best Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend.

Despite the Angels out-hitting the Rays 9-to-7, Los Angeles came up short and lost 5-2 in the series-deciding rubber match Sunday. The Angels were behind early in this one, as Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda mashed a 409-foot home run to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

Left fielder Jose Siri came home on a wild pitch by Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan to tie the game in the second, but that was the lone run the two-time All-Star allowed. McClanahan pitched five innings and allowed four hits while striking out three to earn his sixth win of the season.

Angels right-handed starter Jack Kochanowicz struggled again, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks while fanning one in 2.1 innings of work. After a great start to the season, the big righty hasn’t been as effective in recent outings.

Catcher Logan O’Hoppe hit his second home run of the season in the seventh for the Halos, but that would be the last time the Angels touched home plate for the remainder of the game. O’Hoppe went 2-for-4 and doubled in his first at-bat.

The series was in reach for the Angels, which is a good sign moving forward. The club gets a chance to rebound against the worst MLB has to offer at the moment when it faces off against the Rockies.

Left-hander Kyle Freeland will get the ball for Colorado while ace righty José Soriano toes the rubber for Los Angeles in the series opener.

Freeland has struggled mightily and has pretty much his whole career, but credit to him because this is his 10th MLB season. The experienced lefty is 1-6 with a 8.08 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 39 strikeouts through nine starts (42.1 innings). The Los Angeles Dodgers beat him up over four innings, tagging him for eight runs on nine hits in four innings.

Soriano has pitched well in his third season as a full-time starter with the Angels, posting a 6-4 record with a 2.65 ERA (11th), 1.15 WHIP and 78 strikeouts (tied-ninth) through 12 starts (71.1 innings). He last pitched against the Detroit Tigers and took the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks while punching out four over five innings.

Soriano was the super early AL Cy Young front-runner through six starts, and while he has come back down to earth, he has been the ace that the Halos have been searching for.

First pitch is at 6:38 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.