The Los Angeles Angels are rolling towards their fourth American League West crown in five seasons, holding an 11.5-game lead over Texas as of Thursday. The Angels will kick off a three-game set with the New York Yankees at Angel Stadium on Friday, with the Yankees trying to overcome a number of injuries to their starting rotation, even with one of their pitchers making a return.
New York Yankees at Los Angeles Angels – 10:05 PM ET
Ian Kennedy (0-3, 7.41) was sent to the minors after an awful start to the season, then he injured a lat muscle which landed him on the disabled list. But the 23-year-old righthander came back with a vengeance in the minors, and with the injury to Joba Chamberlain, Kennedy is given another chance to stick with the Yankees. In his last outing, Kennedy gave up four runs (three earned) on four hits in three innings of a 10-9 extra-inning loss in Baltimore, taking the no-decision. This will be the first meeting with the Angels of Kennedy's two-year career.
Jered Weaver (9-9, 4.37) did not help his team at all in his last start, coincidentally against the Yankees, as he dropped the decision in an 8-2 loss in New York. Weaver was tagged for six runs on eight hits, and the “Bronx Bombers” nailed the 25-year-old righthander for four home runs in the contest. You never quite know what you are going to get from Weaver, who is in his third season in the majors. This is to be expected of a young pitcher, and Weaver is at least fortunate to be on a team with a deep rotation like the Angels.
These two split a four-game set in New York earlier this season, and the Yankees desperately need a good showing this weekend to keep pace with Tampa Bay and Boston in the East. New York will have to provide run support to Kennedy, who is looking for his first career win on the road. Meanwhile, Weaver will just look to be consistent against a team that destroyed him in their last meeting.
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