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Promising lefthanders square off when Angels face White Sox

Sep 7, 2008 - 12:48 PM LA Angels (85-56) at Chi White Sox (80-61) 2:05 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- There have been a lot of positives both the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Chicago White Sox and lefthanders Joe Saunders and John Danks are at the top of the list.

Saunders has filled in capably in Kelvim Escobar's rotation spot, going 12-5 through July 8 to make the American League All-Star team. The 27-year-old spent the previous two seasons bouncing back and forth between Class AAA Salt Lake and the Angels' rotation before sticking in 2008.

But Saunders (14-7, 3.69 ERA) has slowed noticeably over the past five weeks, going 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA in his last five starts. He picked up a win against the White Sox on May 23, allowing one runs and three hits in 8 1/3 frames.

Danks (10-8, 3.44) was among the biggest All-Star snubs in the AL, and is turning into the ace of the Chicago staff. The 23-year-old has allowed three runs or less in 20 of his 28 starts while leading the White Sox in ERA.

But Danks, too has slowed of late, suffering the loss in each of his last three starts and failing to record an out in the fifth inning in either of his last two outings.

Chicago has take the first two games of the series, earning a dramatic win Saturday in 15 innings when Jim Thome hit a walk-off blast. The White Sox (80-61) own a 2 1/2-game lead over the Minnesota Twins (78-64) in the AL Central.

The Angels trail the Tampa Bay Rays (85-55) by one-half game for the best record in the AL.