The Wednesday afternoon matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Angels could become a pitching duel of two unlikely players. Both Garrett Richards and AJ Burnett have pitched very well to start the year off, giving both teams hope for the season ahead. Now they will battle as the Angels attempt to sweep the Phillies in the two-game series.
Richards has taken the leap Los Angeles was hoping for this year. After two average seasons, the pitcher is now 3-0 with a 2.80 ERA. He has struck out 46 batters over his past seven starts while opponents are hitting just .186 off him this season. The 25-year-old failed to really do much in the first few years of his professional career, but the change in stats has Los Angeles thrilled for the future.
In his last game, Richards gave up just two runs off five hits in seven innings as the Angels got the win in Toronto. He is 1-0 with a 1.75 ERA in interleague starts, having given up just one run to the Washington Nationals in his only matchup this season.
On the otherside, Burnett has been pitching very well minus his last start. The veteran is 2-2 with a 2.90 ERA but did get roughed up in Toronto, allowing seven runs and three home runs in just six innings. He has not faced the Angels since 2011 when he was with the New York Yankees, but is 2-2 with a 4.75 ERA in his career against the American League team.
The series between the Phillies and Angels is a small homecoming for All-Star Mike Trout. However, he is not performing as well as he would like, going just 1 for 5 in his Philly debut. The center fielder is hitting just .146 right now with 16 strikeouts in his last 13 games. The Angels have still managed to win without his production, improving to 4-1 while in the midst of a six-game road trip.
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