Stratton, Angels aim to take series from Rangers

Chris Stratton isn't exactly a pitcher who will strike fear into opposing hitters, but he's a body with a healthy arm whom the Los Angeles Angels hope will eat some innings.

That's why the Angels traded for him during the last week of spring training, and that's why the right-hander is in the rotation, set to take the mound Sunday afternoon against the Texas Rangers.

Los Angeles has won two of three games in the four-game series that concludes Sunday.

Uncertain about the status of left-hander Andrew Heaney as the club was about to break camp, the Angels traded reliever William Jerez to the San Francisco Giants on March 26 for Stratton. Ultimately, Angels manager Brad Ausmus and his staff had to decide between Stratton and 22-year-old Jaime Barria as to which one would be in the starting staff.

Since Stratton is out of options, meaning he would have to clear waivers before being assigned to a minor league club, the Angels instead sent the promising Barria to Triple-A Salt Lake.

"He brings pitching depth, he's a starting pitcher with major league experience," Ausmus said of Stratton. "You're going to need at least a dozen starting pitchers over the course of the season. He helps us accomplish that."

In his Angels debut Monday, Stratton (0-1, 8.31 ERA) gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings during a 6-3 loss at Seattle. He yielded seven hits and two walks while striking out one.

Last season with the Giants, Stratton made a career-high 26 starts (and 28 appearances overall) while going 10-10 with a 5.09 ERA. He is capable of putting together a fantastic game, such as the two-hit shutout he threw last September against the Colorado Rockies.

Stratton has never faced the Rangers, but he has faced Rangers infielder Logan Forsythe, holding him to one hit in six at-bats.

Shelby Miller (0-0, 4.91 ERA) will start Sunday for the Rangers. The right-hander, like so many other pitchers these days it seems, is experiencing the process of pitching after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

He missed nearly all of the 2017 season and most of 2018, too, pitching in just five games (four starts) last year. Miller got a no-decision in his first start this year, giving up two runs on six hits and five walks in 3 2/3 innings Tuesday against the Houston Astros. He fanned two.

"I'm at the point of my career where I'm not 22 like I used to be," he said. "You can't just do a couple of arm circles and go out and throw. I have to stretch and get in my routine before the game, but right now, my body feels great."

Miller has faced the Angels once in his career, earning a victory after giving up two runs in six innings back in 2013. Justin Bour (5-for-10, two homers) and Andrelton Simmons (6-for-10) have hit Miller well. Mike Trout is 2-for-3 against him.

Trout enters the game having hit at least one home run in three consecutive games. He hit his first of the season in the series opener Thursday, then hit two in Friday's game, and his homer Saturday was a grand slam, leading Los Angeles to a 5-1 win.

Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun and Rangers first baseman Ronald Guzman are day-to-day after both were injured on the same play in the third inning Saturday.

Guzman strained his right hamstring running out a double, and Calhoun banged his right knee into the wall trying to catch the ball. Guzman came out of the game immediately. Calhoun remained in the game before coming out at the start of the seventh inning.

--Field Level Media