Athletics vs Angels Preview: Week 66 Showdown in Anaheim

Watch out! Oakland's bats just exploded. Yesterday they demolished the Angels 9-3, with the fifth inning turning into an offensive fireworks show. Butler, Heim, McNeil, and Williams all singled to push runs across. Bolte, Kurtz, and Langeliers kept the hits coming. The A's are riding a 2-game winning streak into today. But here's the catch: Oakland sits at 40-42, fighting to stay in the race. The Angels' pitching got shredded. Today, Reid Detmers takes the mound for Los Angeles. He's posted a solid 2.77 ERA with 30 strikeouts. Can he slow Oakland's hot bats down? The matchup matters big time.

The Angels are in trouble. They're 34-49 and just lost badly yesterday. Mike Trout, their superstar center fielder, has been out since June 17 with a hamstring injury. The good news? He resumed on-field exercises Tuesday and is progressing well. Manager Kurt Suzuki said Trout is feeling better as activity ramps up. He could return soon—possibly even today. When Trout returns, the Angels' whole lineup gets stronger. Los Angeles is counting on his speed, power, and leadership. Trout is supposed to be back around June 29. That's tomorrow. If he plays today or soon after, the Angels get a real chance to compete.

Here's what you need to know about today's pitching battle. Jack Perkins takes the mound for Oakland. Reid Detmers throws for Los Angeles with a sharp 2.77 ERA and 0.79 WHIP. That WHIP means he's not giving up many walks or hits per inning. Oakland's pitching staff is supposed to keep the A's competitive. Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, and Aaron Civale anchor the rotation—when healthy. But Severino is out on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder strain. Mark Leiter Jr. is also recovering from a hip injury. Oakland needs Perkins to pitch strong today. Detmers' control has been impressive. If Oakland falls behind early, their thin pitching depth gets tested fast.