Red Sox-Angels Pitching Preview: Can Either Starter Improve?
A lot has changed for the Boston Red Sox (40-39) since they dropped a three-game home series against the Los Angeles Angels (37-40) nearly three weeks ago. Set to match up for another three game series on the road in Anaheim on Monday, the Red Sox lineup will look dramatically different when they face the Angels this time around.
The most notable difference is pretty obvious after the team traded slugger Rafael Devers on June 15. In addition to trading Devers, the Red Sox also promoted top prospect Roman Anthony and sent struggling rookie Kristian Campbell to Triple-A Worcester to work on his game.
There was also some tension between both clubs during the previous series after Angels pitcher Tyler Anderson got into a pregame shouting match with Red Sox first base coach Jose Flores over accusations of sign stealing that got pretty heated.
With both teams currently battling for Wild Card spots in wide open divisions, the upcoming series is certainly not lacking story lines to follow. Let’s take a look at the probable starting pitchers taking the mound for the Red Sox and Angels on Monday.
Walker Buehler (5-5) versus Jack Kochanowicz (3-8)
Walker Buehler will get the start for the Red Sox in the series opener after lasting only 3 1/3 innings during his last start against the Seattle Mariners on June 17. The right-hander allowed eight earned runs on eight hits, including a grand slam off the bat of Cal Raleigh in a game he’ll be looking to put in the rear view mirror.
Buehler is 1-4 over his last five starts and has allowed 23 earned runs in his last 23 innings pitched. Angels hitters Travis d’Arnaud (7-15), Scott Kingery (2-4, 2 HR), and Mike Trout (2-5, 1 HR) all have past success against the two-time All-Star.
Overall for the season, Buehler is 5-5 with a 5.95 ERA, 53 Strikeouts, and a 1.50 WHIP in 12 starts.
Taking the mound for the Angels will be Jack Kochanowicz, who didn’t face the Red Sox during the previous series in early June, but is coming off pitching a solid 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the New York Yankees, where he allowed two earned runs on two hits (both home runs) while walking three and striking out eight.
Speaking to Mike DiGiovanna from the Orange County Register, Kochanowicz spoke enthusiastically about how he plans to feature his improved change up against the Red Sox after getting 12 swinging strikes with the pitch in his last start against the Yankees.
“I think it will be a good weapon – having something to go away [from left-handed hitters] is huge,” said Kochanowicz per DiGiovanna “The changeup I was throwing before, it was going down, but it didn’t have that traditional fade to it. I wanted more horizontal movement.”
The 24-year-old has yet to face the Red Sox in his career.