MLB Game Preview - Baltimore at LA Angels

Sun Jul 28, 2019 4:07 PM EDT

A four-game series that took a toll on each pitching staff will come to an end Sunday when the Los Angeles Angels play host to the Baltimore Orioles, who have a chance at an unexpected four-game sweep.

The pitching trouble all started Thursday with the Orioles' 10-8 victory in 16 innings, which made history when outfielder Steve Wilkerson became the first position player ever to earn a save. Even Cooperstown took note, requesting the ball from the last out and Wilkerson's cap to go on display at the Hall of Fame.

Still in recovery mode after all those innings Thursday, the Angels gave up nine runs to the Orioles in a defeat Friday, and both teams then combined for 15 runs in Saturday's 8-7 Orioles victory.

After defeating the National League-best Los Angeles Dodgers in consecutive games on the road, the Angels returned home only to lose three consecutive games to the team with the second-worst record in baseball at 35-69.

Baltimore's improved play actually started before the current meeting against the Angels. On Saturday, they set a major league record with multiple home runs in 10 consecutive games, winning seven of those contests.

"A couple of these were tough (losses); we were right there, for sure, in two of them," said the Angels' David Fletcher, who had a career-best four hits plus three RBIs Saturday, including a run-scoring single in the ninth that got his team within a run. "They have been hitting the ball pretty good and pitching well too. They have been playing pretty good against us."

So in flux was the Angels pitching staff that the team still hasn't committed to a full pitching plan for Sunday. Felix Pena (8-3, 4.82 ERA) will pick up the bulk of the innings, but it remains unknown if it will be as a starter or will come following an opener.

Pena has been on his own wild ride of late. He pitched seven innings of a July 12 combined no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners, then gave up eight runs on nine hits in just 4 2/3 innings in a loss to the Houston Astros five days later. In his most recent start against the Dodgers on Tuesday, he gave up one run but lasted just 3 2/3 innings.

Pena's only career appearance against the Orioles came last year, when he delivered 5 1/3 scoreless innings and earned the victory.

The Orioles will counter Sunday afternoon with right-hander Dylan Bundy (5-11, 5.14), who has a rocky history with the Angels. He is 1-2 with a hefty 7.13 ERA in four appearances (three starts) against his opponent Sunday.

Of the seven home runs Bundy has given up to the Angels in 17 2/3 innings, three have come from Albert Pujols in nine at-bats, with Mike Trout adding another two long balls in nine at-bats.

After winning the first three games of the series, the Orioles are poised for their first sweep all season.

"This is amazing," said Pedro Severino, who hit one of Baltimore's two home runs Saturday. "There are a lot of young talented guys we have over here. We teach how to play baseball. Second half, they've looked much better than (the) first half. We'll keep working and see what happens at the end of the year."

--Field Level Media