Halos set to take on Padres in Two Game Set

After a somewhat disappointing series four-game split with the last place Rangers, the Angels (68-70) will look to bounce back today in a short two game set in San Diego. The offense will need to get going after being shutout yesterday for the 12th time this season and putting together just 5 hits.

In interleague play this season the Halos are 10-8 with a .556 W-L%. The two teams faced each other once earlier this season and split the series. In the total head to head history with the Padres, the Angels are 20-17.

Snell (7-5, 4.31 ERA) is notably better at home posting a 2.49 ERA with a 1.011 WHIP vs on the road where he has a 6.18 ERA and a 1.760 WHIP. He’s coming off one of his best starts of the season where he pitched 7 no hit innings. Neither starting pitcher has faced the other team this year so hopefully that bodes well for the Angels as they look to snap their 2 game loosing streak and make it back to .500.

Here’s the lineup that will start against Blake Snell:

Ohtani sits because there is no DH in NL ballparks but could be available to pinch hit if necessary. Stassi and Walsh are also sitting with a lefty starting tonight.

Here are a few other interesting notes about tonights starting lineup:

This speaks not just to the uniqueness of the lineup but also how up and down it has been all season for the Angels. Having a healthy Trout and Rendon for the entire season could have drastically altered the current position that the Angels are now in.

The Angels still have not announced anything about Trout being officially shut down for the season but Maddon has indicated that an announcement will come soon. Trout has not been doing baseball activities recently, just various core workouts.

Packy Naughton takes the mound for the Halos in his second career start. In the three total appearances he has made this season he has a 4.00 ERA in 9 IP and a 1.778 WHIP. In his last start he went 3.2 innings and allowed 3 runs on 6 hits.

Something else to keep an eye on are the two MVP candidates who will be taking the field. While Ohtani will likely be limited to a few plate appearances, Tatis will be starting in his new outfield position (tonight CF) after repeatedly injuring his shoulder at shortstop.

While the Angels playoff odds are getting longer (10 games back of the second Wild Card spot), the Padres (73-64) are locked in a battle for the NL’s second Wild Card spot and are only a game ahead of the Cincinnati Reds and two ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. First pitch tonight is at 7:10 PM PT.

Angels News and Notes:

• Minor league transactions:
• INF/OF Ray-Patrick Didder in AA placed on Development List
• Promoted from CPX to High-A: Pedro Diaz and Quentin Selma
• Julio De La Cruz assigned to Low-A IE from CPX
• Jose Aleman activated from Temporary Inactive List by CPX