Angels' Canning takes aim at Tigers

Griffin Canning (3-6, 5.15 ERA) will start for the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers, and he's hoping a minor adjustment he made in his last start will carry over to the second game of this series.

That adjustment, Canning acknowledged, might be mental as much as anything.

Something had to change after Canning's start on July 15 against the Houston Astros. The rookie right-hander had his worst start of the season when he completely lost command of his pitches.

In only 1 1/3 innings, he walked six and gave up two hits and three runs. So going into his next start on July 20, Canning made a little change.

"I just moved over on the rubber," he said. "I got more centered on the rubber. Honestly, I don't know if it did anything. But it put me in the right mindset to be in."

Whatever the reason, it worked as Canning rebounded with a solid start against the Seattle Mariners, giving up two runs and four hits in five innings. Most important, he walked only one.

In 14 starts this season, Canning is averaging 1.7 walks per start.

"I'm just trying to get back to being myself," Canning said. "Being aggressive. Throwing strikes. So it wasn't anything out of the ordinary."

While the Seattle game was Canning's last start, he had a relief appearance since then, being called on to pitch in the 16-inning marathon against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Things didn't go so well, as Canning gave up three runs in the 15th inning and two more in the 16th to get the loss.

Canning faced the Tigers earlier this season, making his second career major league start against them on May 7 in Detroit, and earning his first major league victory. He gave up two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings.

Detroit's Drew VerHagen (1-1, 14.40 ERA) will make his second start of the season after beginning the year in the bullpen. VerHagen made 10 relief appearances through early May before being sent to Triple-A Toledo, where he became a starter.

He went 4-2 with a 4.42 ERA in 11 starts for the Mud Hens before rejoining the Tigers on Thursday, when he got shelled for seven runs (six earned) on six hits and four walks in four innings against the Mariners.

VerHagen also got roughed up in his only start last season (seven runs in 3 2/3 innings against the New York Yankees). So when he got beat by Seattle in his only start this season, he was left to wonder about pitching in a starting role. In five career starts, he is 0-4 with a 10.13 ERA.

"I'd be lying if I didn't say it feels like deja vu, but I try to keep a fresh mentality every day," VerHagen said. "I try to just keep grinding, keep working hard and keep working on stuff every day."

In two career appearances against the Angels, both out of the bullpen, he's given up three runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Tigers left fielder Christin Stewart's status for Tuesday's game is unknown after he left Monday's game with a possible injury. Stewart slammed into the wall going after Kole Calhoun's home run in the fifth inning, the outfielder's left shoulder impacting the support beam.

--Field Level Media