Angels vs Diamondbacks Preview: Big Pitching Showdown

The Angels are rolling. They've won four straight games and are playing their best baseball in weeks. But here's the problem: they're heading to Arizona to face Ryne Nelson, and Nelson is struggling hard. The Diamondbacks pitcher has a 12.07 ERA so far this season. That's bad. Really bad. The Angels' bats smell blood in the water. Los Angeles comes in at 29-42 overall, but their recent form shows they can compete. Nelson's given up tons of hits and walks early in games. If the Angels can jump on him fast, they could keep this winning streak alive and grab a big road victory against a .500 team.

The Diamondbacks just lost their last game. They're 35-35 on the season, but they're only 3-7 in their last ten games. That's a scary slide. Arizona needs strong pitching to turn things around, but Ryne Nelson is the guy taking the mound tonight, and he's the opposite of what they need right now. Nelson has a 1.71 WHIP, meaning runners are getting on base way too often. The Diamondbacks are at home, which is their strength—they're 21-14 at Chase Field. If the bullpen can pick Nelson up and keep the game tight, Arizona might steal this one. But they can't afford another loss.

When the Angels bat, they're missing some key players. Jorge Soler is out with an oblique injury. Yoan Moncada had surgery on his knee. These absences hurt Los Angeles' offense. But the Angels still have talent—they won four straight somehow. Arizona's lineup is also dealing with injuries. Carlos Santana is rehabbing. Lourdes Gurriel is close to returning. James McCann is still working his way back from a quad strain. Both teams are banged up, but both can still score runs. The team that stays healthier down the stretch wins games like this. Tonight could come down to who's got more bullets in the gun.