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Angels, Tigers match offensive power

Apr 25, 2008 - 1:12 PM LA Angels (14-9) at Detroit (10-13) 7:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) - The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will match offenses with the Detroit Tigers on Friday.

Slugging was the weak link for the Angels last season despite a .284 batting average. The club lacked much power behind Vladimir Guerrero - managing just 123 homers - and was exposed in the AL Division Series as the Red Sox outscored Anaheim 19-4 in a three-game sweep.

The Angels have started the 2008 season with much more power, bashing 26 homers in 23 games - a pace that would have them at 183 blasts at season's end.

Newcomer Torii Hunter has four homers and the catching tandem Jeff Mathis and Mike Napoli has combined for eight blasts. First baseman Casey Kotchman leads the way with six.

Anaheim slugged four homers in its past two games - both wins - over Boston.

The Tigers constructed an offense over the offseason that was expected to challenge for 900 runs, but managed to push across just 33 while starting the season 2-10.

Since then, Detroit has averaged 7.82 runs per game while going 8-3, including four straight wins.

The Angels will look to slow the Tigers attack with righthander Ervin Santana (3-0, 2.67 ERA).

The 25-year-old has been sharp this season, tossing at least six innings in each of his four starts, including an eight-inning, one-run win Saturday against Seattle.

Detroit will counter with struggling Nate Robertson (0-2, 7.48). The veteran lefthander has allowed at least four earned runs in each of his four starts and took a loss Sunday at Toronto when he yielded five runs and eight hits in five frames.

Robertson is 0-4 with an 8.91 ERA in seven career starts against Anaheim. Vladimir Guerrero is 9-for-14 with six RBI in his career against the lefthander.