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Angels-Blue Jays Preview

Jun 4, 2009 - 3:51 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Los Angeles (25-25) at Toronto (30-24), 12:37 p.m. EDT

John Lackey's season hasn't gotten much better since the Los Angeles Angels right-hander made his 2009 debut and was ejected after two pitches.

After his worst start of the year, Lackey takes the mound Thursday when the Angels try to clinch a series victory in their three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Coming off a 12-5 record in 2008 with Los Angeles (26-25), Lackey (1-1, 6.05 ERA) missed the first month of this season with a strained right forearm. It was the second straight year he would miss the opening month after a right triceps strain sidelined him in 2008.

Lackey had just one win in his first four starts last year, but much of that was due to a lack of run support, as he had a 1.80 ERA during that stretch. Control problems seem to be Lackey's biggest issue thus far. He gave up five runs and a season-high 10 hits in 7 1-3 innings of a 5-2 loss to the Mariners on Friday.

It was Lackey's longest start of the season after going just five innings his previous two outings following his shortened debut May 16.

The veteran right-hander, though, doesn't see any issue with his mechanics.

"My stuff tonight felt as good as it's been in a couple of years, honestly," he said. "I had a really good two-seamer. I'm still not really sure how I gave up three in that one inning, but that's baseball. You've just got to keep making pitches and try to give your team a chance to win."

Lackey is 3-3 with a 3.39 ERA in 10 starts against the Blue Jays (30-25). He was 1-1 in three starts last season, with the Angels winning two.

Lackey looks to follow a solid outing by Jered Weaver, who struck out a season-high 10 in seven innings of Wednesday's 8-1 victory by the Angels. Los Angeles' starters had given up 14 runs over 10 2-3 innings in the previous two games and had a 6.64 ERA in seven games prior to the win.

Weaver was helped by an offense that had six doubles among its 13 hits, while Bobby Abreu homered and drove in four runs.

Toronto will try to bounce back after managing just five hits and going 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Adam Lind had three of those hits and is 8 for 19 (.421) in his last five games.

Toronto will hand the ball to Brian Tallet (3-3, 4.26) in the series finale.

Tallet won for the first time in four starts Saturday after allowing three runs and three hits in seven innings of a 5-3 win over Boston.

The left-hander is making his first start against the Angels. In four relief appearances against them in 2008 he was 0-1 and allowed one run and two hits over four innings of work.

The Blue Jays are 19-8 at Rogers Centre, losing only one series. They dropped two of three to the New York Yankees from May 12-14.