Padres vs Angels: Soriano, Trout and Miller seek to continue shining
The Padres, who are riding an important winning streak, travel to Los Angeles to face the Angels, who are coming off a close series against the Yankees.
The San Diego Padres visit the Los Angeles Angels in a series weekend that will put the best reliever in the Major Leagues (MLB), Mason Millerand at best starter in the American League In the first three weeks of the season, the Dominican law Jose Soriano.
In Friday’s game, right-hander Matt Waldron (0-1, 7.71 in 4.2 IL in 2025) will make his first start after replacing the San Diego to the injured Nick Pivetta, who went on the disabled list with a right elbow flexor strain.
Waldron had 12 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in the minor leagues after recovering from a medical procedure unrelated to his pitching arm.
For the Angels will open Soriano (4-0, 0.33, 31 strikeouts and 27 IL), who has just thrown six innings of two hits and 10 strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds, extending his epic start to the campaign. The Dominican is the first pitcher since at least 1900 with more than 25 innings and less than 10 hits and two runs in four starts.
Sorianoagainst whom the opposition is hitting .103, will face the hottest team in the major leagues.
San Diego has won eight consecutive games to improve its record to 13-6 and move within 1.5 games of the two-time champions of MLBLos Angeles Dodgers (14-4), in the powerful West Division of the National League. With their brand, Parents They would be leaders in the other five divisions of the major leagues.
and the Parents They have achieved that, even though they have not been able to hit at their true capacity. San Diego He hits .240 and ranks 17th in home runs (17) and 11th in runs scored (90). But his pitching is fifth in ERA (3.35) and strikeouts (182).
Led by Millerhis bullpen has a 2.89 ERA with 85 strikeouts in 81 innings.
Millerwho was acquired in a trade from the Athletics on July 31 of last year, has pulverized his opponents at a historic rate in 2026. The right-hander has allowed only one hit and has struck out 23 of 30 batters faced and has converted his first six save opportunities.
Miller He is the first reliever in history with 20 or more strikeouts, five or more saves and one hit or less in his first nine appearances in the history of MLB. Since he arrived at San Diego He is 1-0, 0.55 ERA (2 runs in 32.2 IL) with eight hits and 68 strikeouts.
But the launchers San Diego They will have to deal with an offense that is second in Major Leagues in home runs (32) and second in the American League in runs scored (105) and with Mike Trout.
Trouta three times Most Valuable Playercomes from hitting five home runs in the four-game series at Yankee Stadium, which the angels They split with the New York Yankees. The future Hall of Famer from Cooperstown was 9 for 27 (.333) with 13 RBI and seven walks in his last seven games.
Los Angeles (10-10) begin the weekend half a game behind the Athletics and Texas Rangers (10-9) in the fight for first place in the American League West Division.
