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Angels-Blue Jays Preview

Aug 21, 2009 - 5:30 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (73-45) at Toronto (55-63), 7:07 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays each have a rookie pitcher making his ninth career start Friday night at Rogers Centre.

While Toronto's Marc Rzepczynski has been pitching better than Los Angeles' Sean O'Sullivan, he hasn't had the same luck.

The AL West-leading Angels look to bounce back from their latest defeat with another strong offensive performance behind O'Sullivan in the opener of this three-game series.

Los Angeles (73-46) leads the majors in runs (685) and batting average (.290), but has been limited to six runs and 11 hits in its last two games. The Angels left nine runners on base in Thursday's 11-3 loss to Cleveland, snapping a five-game winning streak. Despite the setback, they're 30-11 since July 4 and own a 5 1/2 -game division lead over second-place Texas.

While the offense has been scuffling a bit lately, it has had no trouble scoring with O'Sullivan (3-1, 5.91 ERA) on the mound.

After going 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA in his first five major league starts, O'Sullivan is 0-1 with a 10.54 ERA in his last three outings. The Angels' high-powered offense has allowed the 21-year-old right-hander to avoid more losses by backing him with an average of 7.17 runs of support in his eight starts. Los Angeles is 7-1 when O'Sullivan takes the ball.

He permitted six runs and seven hits - including three home runs - in four innings Sunday against Baltimore, but the Angels went on to win 17-8 in 13 innings.

Rzepczynski (1-3, 3.98) hasn't been as fortunate.

The left-hander's ERA is nearly two runs lower than O'Sullivan's, but he has received two runs or fewer of support in five of his eight starts.

Rzepczynski again didn't get much help at Tampa Bay on Sunday. He gave up one run and six hits in six innings of a 5-2 loss as the Blue Jays (55-64) dropped to 2-6 in his starts, though he didn't receive a decision.

"I've always had a lot of confidence, but this is now good knowing that I can pitch at this level for sure," Rzepczynski told the Blue Jays' official Web site. "Pitching up here now, it's just staying consistent and improving on stuff, and hopefully getting a chance to stay up here."

While Rzepczynski is working towards improving, Toronto's offense is showing little indication of doing so.

The Blue Jays have lost seven of eight and have been outscored 37-16 during a five-game losing streak, their longest skid since dropping a season-high nine in a row May 19-27.

Toronto managed three hits in Thursday's 8-1 loss to Boston, the second straight game it plated a single run.

The Blue Jays have lost nine of 12 at Rogers Centre overall, and have dropped five of their last seven home games against the Angels.

Los Angeles, making its final stop of a three-city trip, is 15-5 on the road since the All-Star break.

The Angels expect to have center fielder Torii Hunter back in the lineup for the opener after he sat out Thursday still recovering from a right adductor muscle strain. He is 5 for 15 with two RBIs in three games since spending more than five weeks on the disabled list, but is batting .136 with one RBI in his last seven games at Rogers Centre.