Pittsburgh Pirates look to stay on winning track against Los Angeles Angels

After taking two of three from the Colorado Rockies over the weekend, winning their first series since taking two of three from Baltimore in early April, the Pittsburgh Pirates will look to continue to heat up as they host the struggling Los Angeles Angels for a three-game set.

The Angels enter this week with a 12-22 record on the season and will be without their best player, Mike Trout, who required some clean up on his meniscus and will be out of action until sometime in June.

The Angles are coming off a series loss to the Cleveland Guardians, losing two of three matchups including a 7-1 loss on Saturday and a 4-1 loss on Sunday after defeating the Guardians 6-0 in the series opener. After starting the season 9-9 in their first 18 games, the Angels have gone 3-13 over their last 16 games.

This season, the Angels have struggled both on the mound and at the plate. Their team ERA of 4.90 ranks 14th in the American League while their 139 total runs this season ranks 10th. They notably have shown some power this season with 36 home runs in 34 games, which puts them seventh in the American League as well.

Last season, the Angels got the better of the Pirates winning two of three matchups in a late July series in Anaheim. The last time the Angels came to Pittsburgh was in June of 2016, also taking two of three from the Pirates in that series.

With that, here are this week's pitching matchups for the series.

PITCHING MATCHUPS

MONDAY: Tyler Anderson (LHP) vs Mitch Keller (RHP)

After an ugly first season with the Angels in which he posted an ERA of 5.43, Anderson has bounced back so far this season, posting a 2.23 ERA in six starts and across 36.1 innings pitched. That being said, his 4.78 FIP suggests that Anderson might be getting a bit lucky.

Keller is coming off a solid start in his last start against Oakland, allowing three earned runs in five innings against the Oakland Athletics. He, however, took his third loss of the season. Entering Monday, he's 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA.

TUESDAY: Patrick Sandoval (LHP) vs Quinn Priester (RHP)

It has been a tough season for Patrick Sandoval. He enters Tuesday with a 1-5 season and a 5.91 ERA but his FIP suggests the opposite of his teammate Tyler Anderson. Through seven starts, Sandoval has a 3.19 FIP this season. He's only allowed two home runs but has walked 16 in 32 innings pitched. He's also allowing 10.7 hits per nine.

Priester put together a second straight quality start against Oakland last week, allowing two earned runs and three total in six innings. He struck out three while walking four. He did, however, give up a pair of home runs and has now allowed five in 16.1 innings pitched.

WEDNESDAY: Jose Soriano (RHP) vs Martin Perez (LHP)

Soriano has been one of the Angels' best pitchers on the young season, posting a 3.77 ERA over 28.2 innings pitched. That being said, control has been an issue so far with 15 walks and four hit by pitches. Last time out for Soriano, he pitched six scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians, walking one and striking out three.

Perez enters this week's series with a 1-2 record and a 3.15 ERA in seven starts and 40 innings pitched. This past weekend against the Rockies, the veteran pitched 5.1, allowing three earned runs on eight hits including a solo home run by Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon.