Angels vs. Orioles Preview and Pick

A couple of pitchers off to lousy starts this season meet up Monday night when Jeff Weaver and the Los Angeles Angels wind up a four-game series with Daniel Cabrera and the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

Baltimore had won three games in a row, including the first two games of this series. But the Angels banged out 13 hits to beat the O’s 9-3 Sunday, breaking their own three-game losing streak.

Los Angeles sits atop the American League West, even with their .500 record.

The Orioles are in second place in the AL East, 1 ½ game back of Boston.

The Angels won the season series with Baltimore last year four games to two; the o/u went 3-3.

The nine runs L.A. scored Sunday was a season high. Before that, the Angels had averaged 3.6 runs over their previous nine games.

Los Angeles is 2-4 on the road this season, while the Orioles are 4-5 at home.

L.A.’s Monday starter Jeff Weaver (0-1, 6.57 ERA) has had two uninspiring starts this year after coming over from the Dodgers during the off-season. In those two starts, Weaver has allowed nine ER and 21 baserunners (hits + walks) in 12 1/3 innings pitched.

Weaver hasn’t pitched against Baltimore since he was a member of the Yankees back in 2002.

Daniel Cabrera, the O’s slated starter Monday, has been even worse this season. In two starts thus far in ’06, Cabrera (0-1, 11.37 ERA) has allowed eight ER and 22 BR (including 16 walks) in 6 1/3 IP.

Cabrera did not start a game vs. the Angels in 2005. He started twice against them in 2004, allowing nine ER and 21 BR in 10 IP.

Cabrera posted one impressive statistic last year, when he held right-handed batters to a .174 batting average.

Los Angeles is averaging 4.1 runs per game this season, with a lethargic .311 team OBP. The Angels also own a 17/69 bases on balls to strikeout ratio.

Baltimore is averaging 5.7 runs per game this season, with a .283 team batting average and a 34/56 BB/K ratio.

L.A. pitching is allowing 5.4 runs per game in ’06. Their bullpen has given up 12 ER and 45 BR in 35 IP.

Oriole pitching is allowing 5.0 runs per game this year, and opponents have a .355 team OBP. The Baltimore bullpen has been generous, allowing 21 ER and 60 BR in 33 1/3 IP.

Projected home-plate umpire Bill Miller called 33 games behind the plate in ’05. Those games averaged 8.1 runs, while the o/u went 12-17. But Miller’s two games behind the plate this year have averaged 15.5 runs, and both have gone over the posted total.

Camden Yards games averaged 8.8 runs last year, but 10.8 runs thus far this season.

The Ultimatecapper Pick: We like the over 9.5 here.