Sunday’s postponement at Wrigley Field due to snow will allow the Los Angeles Angels to start Trevor Cahill in Monday night’s opener of a three-game series against the division-rival Texas Rangers.
The Angels, who have won seven of their last eight games, make their first stop in Texas after taking three of four games when the clubs met last week in Anaheim. Cahill, who was scheduled to start Sunday, will take his 1-1 record and 3.50 ERA against a Rangers team that has had a knack for putting up big innings late in home games.
They did it again Sunday, scoring five runs in the seventh and eighth innings to cap a rally from a 7-2 deficit and defeat the Oakland A’s 8-7. The win also pushed the Rangers back to .500 in the competitive AL West division.
The 6-foot-4 Cahill will make his first start of the season against the Rangers. Over his career, Cahill is 11-4 with a 3.22 ERA against Texas. The former Oakland A’s pitcher has thrown 123.0 innings against the Rangers, more than against any other team.
He might have the services of Angels slugger Mike Trout backing him in the lineup. Tests on Trout’s injured groin showed significant improvement, and he is to be reevaluated prior to the game before his status is determined.
While Cahill would love to see Trout’s big bat in the lineup, Rangers starter Shelby Miller wouldn’t mind seeing him planted on the bench. The right-handed Miller is looking for his first win of the season in his third start.
Miller (0-1) was scheduled to start Sunday’s game against Oakland, but he was scratched after Saturday’s game was rained out, and his start was pushed back to Monday. He’s endured a brutal start to the season in his first two starts, amassing a 9.53 ERA.
The right-hander’s loss this season came April 7 against the Angels. He lasted just two innings, giving up four runs on four hits and three walks and throwing 67 pitches. He didn’t last much longer in his first start, going just 3 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros.
Miller has just two career starts against the Angels, going 1-1 over a combined eight innings, while giving up six runs on nine hits.
He’s trying to resurrect his career after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2017. The native Texan began his career with St. Louis before moving on to Atlanta and then Arizona. The Rangers acquired Miller as a free agent in January.
Despite losing to the Angels this season, Miller said he came away from the game feeling good about his performance.
“This was the best I’ve felt going into a game since my (Tommy John) surgery,” Miller told MLB.com. “My command and stuff down in the bullpen was so good. I was staying behind the ball, and my curveball was sharp. First inning, felt the same way. Second inning, I just tried to do too much. Starting missing with my fastball up in the zone. That caused me to get behind in the count.”
