Jose Soriano has been the most dominating starting pitcher in the majors so far this season, and the Los Angeles Angels need another strong performance.
The right-handed Soriano will carry a microscopic 0.28 ERA to the mound Wednesday afternoon when he attempts to pitch the Angels to a victory in the finale of a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Anaheim, Calif.
The Angels dropped the first two contests of the series and have lost a season-worst four straight games. Los Angeles has scored just six runs during the slide.
That makes it good timing for Soriano’s turn to arrive. His 5-0 record ties for the major league lead in wins with Milwaukee Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby and his 0.73 WHIP is second behind Shota Imanaga (0.72) of the Chicago Cubs.
In addition to leading the majors in ERA, Soriano also is on top in opponents batting average (.104).
Soriano, 27, allowed three hits in one start and just two in the other four. He has given up 11 hits while posting 39 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings.
The Angels last won on Friday when Soriano allowed two hits in 5 2/3 innings of an 8-0 victory over the visiting San Diego Padres. He struck out eight and walked four.
Soriano went 10-11 with a 4.26 ERA in 31 starts last season, sometimes displaying a dominant version of himself.
But he’s never approached the consistent status of this season’s five starts.
“I think mentally I’m stronger and physically too, I feel stronger,” Soriano said after the victory over San Diego. “I’m learning a lot from the past. I’m taking the good things and trying to use them right now. I think that’s part of the good results I’m having now.”
Soriano has a 5.40 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against Toronto. Vladimir Guerrero is 2-for-2 with a walk against Soriano.
The Angels lost 5-2 on Monday and 4-2 on Tuesday to the Blue Jays.
Los Angeles had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday but Toronto’s Louie Varland induced Nolan Schanuel to hit into a game-ending double play for his first career save.
Varland was called on because closer Jeff Hoffman endured another shaky outing. After getting the first out, Hoffman gave up a single, hit two consecutive batters and allowed an RBI single to Yoan Moncada before getting pulled.
Hoffman has been under fire from Toronto fans since blowing the save in Game 7 of the World Series last season when non-power hitter Miguel Rojas of the Los Angeles Dodgers hit a tying homer with one out in the ninth inning. The Dodgers won the game 5-4 in 11 innings to win the championship.
Hoffman has a 7.59 ERA and is 3-for-6 in save opportunities this season.
“I know there may be people who don’t want to hear this, but I’ve got a lot of trust and confidence in Jeff Hoffman,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after the game on Tuesday. “If there’s a situation to close out a game, I’ll take Jeff Hoffman.”
Tuesday’s contest was tied 1-1 in the eighth before Lenyn Sosa drilled a tiebreaking two-run double for the Blue Jays and scored on Eloy Jimenez’s single.
Toronto will send left-hander Eric Lauer (1-3, 7.13) to the mound for the finale.
Lauer, 30, has lost three straight starts and allowed 12 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings during the span.
He lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday when he gave up three runs and five runs over five innings in the 6-3 game.
Lauer has a 2.84 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Angels. Jorge Soler has a homer in four at-bats against him.
–Field Level Media
