The red-hot Los Angeles Angels (44-38) are on another level of late, winning seven of their last eight games. They will have to sustain that form, however, if they plan to catch the Houston Astros atop the American League West division before the All-Star Break. The Colorado Rockies, on the other hand, are simply hoping to get out of the cellars of the National League West after a disastrous 10-game road trip.
For more MLB previews, you can click here for a breakdown of tonight’s matchup between Detroit and Seattle.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Andrew Heaney (1-0, 1.38 ERA) is fast fulfilling the promise of his amateur hype. The former top Marlins pitching prospect is on the mound again tonight against Colorado, and will be looking to keep his record unblemished after two spectacular outings thus far this season.
In his most recent start, Heaney silenced the hard-hitting Yankees, allowing one earned run (a homer) on two hits over seven frames in LA’s 2-1 win on June 30. Prior to that start, Heaney threw six innings and gave up just an earned run on four hits, as the Angels beat Houston, 2-1, on June 24.
Heaney’s fantastic form in that game saved the Angels lineup from the miniscule run support they provided. That being said, offense is apparently not a problem for the Halos these days, as evidenced by the 33 total runs they mustered in a recent three-game sweep of Texas.
Erick Aybar has been the most prolific Angel batter over the last few games, hitting 11-for-20 (.550) with seven runs, a homer, and five RBIs. Designated hitter C.J. Cron, meanwhile, was also among the standouts in the Texas series, wherein he hit 8-for-14 (.571) with a homer and eight RBIs.
After a 10-game road trip wherein they went just 3-7, the Rockies finally return home later tonight. And for their first game at Coors Field since June 25, the Rockies will give the ball to Chad Bettis (4-3, 3.67 ERA), who is in search of his first win this month.
Coming off a loss in his recent start against the A’s, Bettis hopes that the thin air in Mile High City continues to be kind to him. Despite Coors Field being a hitter-friendly park, Bettis has still managed to come up with a 2-1 record and an impressive 2.84 ERA in five home starts thus far this season—better than his 2-2 record and 4.55 ERA in five road starts. Colorado is 4-1 in Bettis’ last five home starts.
In addition to his solid performance at Coors Field, Bettis can also relax himself with the thought that the Rockies’ offense is at its absolute best at home. In fact, the Rockies are No. 1 in the majors in batting average at home with a .297 clip. They’re also second in on-base percentage (.349) and third in slugging percentage (.473) at home.
Among those Bettis will be counting on to deliver the run support tonight are Troy Tulowitzki and Charlie Blackmon. Tulowitzki is batting .346 with five homers and 22 RBIs at home this season. Blackmon, on the other hand, is .294 with three homers and 19 RBIs at Coors Field.
