Things are not looking for the Toronto Blue Jays and facing the Los Angeles Angels will not help improve them. The team is at risk of losing their sixth straight game as they prepare for an afternoon game against the Angels who are above .500 and starting to find their stride. Part of that is an improved CJ Wilson who is looking like a completely different pitcher than he was in 2014 as the starter gets another chance to show how much he has changed on Monday.
Wilson finished last year 13-10 with a 4.51 ERA which was his highest since becoming a full-time starter in 2010. That was not the pitcher the Angels were expecting to get from the Texas Rangers which meant Wilson had to put in the work during the offseason if he intended to keep his roster spot. 2015 has looked much better. He is 1-1 in five starts with a 2.10 ERA. His lone bad outing came against Kansas City when he gave up seven runs. Wilson surrendered just two runs in eight innings during his last start against Colorado.
The Blue Jays have excelled against Wilson in recent years as the pitcher is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA in four starts against the team. Part of that struggle is thanks to Jose Bautista who is 9 for 20 off the pitcher. However, Bautista is struggling lately, going 0 for 3 against Houston this past weekend. The Blue Jays need Bautista to improve off his .216 batting average as the team finished a recent road trip 1-6. They won seven of their last nine home games which gives some hope they can get it done against Los Angeles.
Toronto will put Aaron Sanchez on the mound who has not looked that controlled in recent starts. He has walked at least four batters in all seven starts which has him ranked as the worst pitcher in walks per innings. On Wednesday he gave up four walks and five runs to the Baltimore Orioles. The Angels will have to show some patience at the plate, but can take advantage of the struggling pitcher to get a need win during this 10-game road trip.
