NewsHunter ready to return to surging Halos
Los Angeles (69-45) at Baltimore (48-68), 10:35 a.m. PT
By Brian Eller / MLB.com
08/16/09 12:59 AM ET
BALTIMORE -- As the Angels were getting ready for Saturday's game against the Orioles, one teammate was 30,000 feet overhead.Torii Hunter, who has been on the disabled list since July 10, landed in Baltimore on Saturday night and will suit up for the Angels in Sunday's game against the Orioles.
"He's en route," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before Saturday's game. "He supposed to land sometime this evening, and we"ll see him tomorrow and activate him tomorrow."
Hunter was actually in the dugout before game's end to see his teammates beat the Orioles on Saturday.
Scioscia said he plans on putting Hunter in Sunday's lineup, but will make sure the center fielder gets acclimated to the rigorous schedule. Hunter, who has been rehabbing from a strained right groin muscle, has missed the team's past 31 games.
His addition will add to an already-potent hitting lineup. Entering Saturday's game, the Angels led the Major Leagues in team average at .289, average with runners in scoring position (.309) and hits (1,132).
With Hunter back in the lineup, the Halos will likely move Bobby Abreu back to the two-spot, and put Hunter in the three-spot ahead of Vladimir Guerrero. Before suffering the injury, Hunter accumulated 17 home runs and 65 RBIs in just 77 games with the Angels.
The Halos' new-look offense will go against Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie, who is Baltimore's No. 1 starter but is just 7-12 with a 5.43 ERA this season.
Pitching matchupLAA: RHP Sean O'Sullivan (3-1, 5.12 ERA)
O'Sullivan was roughed up by the Rays on Monday at Angel Stadium to the tune of six runs on six hits over just 4 2/3 innings. But it was just one of those nights for the offenses as Rays starter Matt Garza fared even worse with six runs allowed in just 3 1/3 innings, allowing O'Sullivan to get away with a no-decision. O'Sullivan faced Baltimore earlier this season in Anaheim, allowing four runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings to get saddled with a no-decision in an eventual win for the Angels. BAL: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (7-12, 5.43 ERA)
Guthrie's troublesome season continued in his past start, when he allowed 11 hits -- 10 of them singles -- in a one-sided loss to Oakland. The right-hander has allowed more home runs than any other American League starter, but he's said that his arm feels healthy and that his mechanics are sound. Guthrie will try to get his season back in order against the Angels, but he's won just once since the beginning of July. Tidbits
Chone Figgins stole two bases Saturday, bringing his season total to 36. He entered the game fourth in the American League in steals, bedhing BJ Upton, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford. ... John Lackey picked up his 99th career win. With his next victory, he'll be the fifth Angels pitcher in club history to amass 100 career wins. ... After entering Saturday's game leading the Majors with 1,132 hits, the Angels accumulated 12 hits, including four players who had multi-hit games.
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• KLAA 830, KWKW 1330 (Español) Up next
• Monday: Angels (Ervin Santana, 5-6, 6.38) at Orioles (David Hernandez, 4-4, 3.81), 4:05 p.m. PT
• Tuesday: Angels (TBD) at Indians (Fausto Carmona, 2-7, 6.37), 4:05 p.m. PT
• Wednesday: Angels (Jered Weaver, 12-4, 4.12) at Indians (Jeremy Sowers, 4-8, 4.88), 4:05 p.m. PT
Brian Eller is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
