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Detroit Tigers (45-42) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (46-41)

Pitching Probables: DET – Brad Penny (5-6, 4.43 ERA)  LAA – Tyler Chatwood (5-5, 3.83 ERA)

Game Info: 12:35 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

The Texas Rangers are persistent ones, stil holding on to first place in the midst of this 4 game win streak. It isn't to hard to do that when you're facing the Baltimore Orioles of all teams, while it speaks wonders for the Angels that they're able to keep it up against a real contender. A win today would give the Angels their 5th win in a row, their 2nd series sweep on this homestand in which the Angels are 7-1. Of all the starters the Angels put their trust in to bring home the sweep it comes down to Tyler Chatwood, and I couldn't feel more comfortable.

The July 6th, 2011 edition of daily news for the LA Angels including Weaver and Kendrick are All-Stars, Reagins says he can add payroll at the trade deadline, Fernando Rodney recovering slowly from his back injury and much more...

The Story: Jered Weaver and Howie Kendrick were named to the 2011 American League All-Star team.

The Monkey Says: Old news, I know, but I didn't get a chance to comment yet.  Weaver was an obvious choice and should be the front-runner to start the game (especially since Verlander will start on Sunday and end up ineligible).  Kendrick, though, is a bit of a surprise.  I actually think he very much deserves to make the team, but I thought Ben Zobrist would get his spot instead.

The Story: Tony Reagins says he can add payroll at the trade deadline and expects to do so.

The Monkey Says: This is a surprise since it had been reported earlier this year that the payroll was maxed out.  Reagins makes it sound like he has no ceiling, but I don't believe that.  I suspect any addition he will make at the deadline will be or a minimal financial addition, such as a righty-setup man like Mike Adams who shouldn't be due more than $1 million or so.  A big addition just doesn't seem like something the Halos can afford, financially and prospect-wise, even if they say they can.

It may be early to speculate on the AL Cy Young race, but I would say it is safe to say that Justin Verlander is the presumptive favorite for that award going into the break.  I would also say that Jered Weaver might actually be better and more deserving. 

But that doesn't really matter, because Dan Haren was going toe-to-toe with Verlander tonight, and he might have just rocketed his name into the Cy Young conversation as well.

Angels 1, Tigers 0

Oh sure, Haren doesn't have that shiny no-hitter on his resume, but after his sterling effort tonight, he does have a one-hitter and now a two-hitter to his credit so far this year.  The fact that he spun his gem against Verlander, who was just as on top of his game as Haren was, should only enhance Haren's accomplishment.  It is one thing to throw a shutout when you have a six-run lead, but it is quite another to do it with just a one-run margin of error.

Of course, despite his continued great season and now this specatular start, Haren isn't on the All-Star team and may not get added as an injury replacement since he is going to pitch on Sunday and thus end up being ineligible to pitch, so I worry that Ron Washington will just snub him altogether.

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Detroit Tigers (45-40) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (44-41)

Pitching Probables: DET – Charlie Furbush  (1-1, 2.49 ERA)  LAA – Joel Pineiro (3-3, 4.14 ERA)

Game Info: 6:05 PM PT; TV - Fox Sports West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

Holy Spicoli, this team's actually back in first place! Well, tied for first with those insufferable Rangers. A mere week away from the All-Star break this team has an actual chance to take the lead in the division and charge headfirst into the second half with a foot up on the Rangers in the standings. There's a pretty good chance this ends up turning into a two team race seeing as how Oakland is carving a comfortable little niche in the cellar of the division while Seattle is likely to flame out long before the season ends. 

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Los Angeles Dodgers @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Pitching Probables: LAD – Chad Billingsley (7-6, 4.22 ERA)  LAA – Joel Pineiro (3-8, 4.08 ERA)

Game Info: 5:05 PM PT; TV - ESPN, MLB Network; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

We interrupt your normally scheduled Game Preview for a special interview.  With tonight's game being the featured ESPN Sunday Night Baseball broadcast, I was given an opportunity to interview Sunday Night Baseball's own play-by-play man, Dan Shulman to get his thoughts on the Angels, the Freeway Series and the state of the game today.

Jered Weaver is the man. Forget all the talk about Sabathia and Verlander, Weaver is the AL Cy Young frontrunner in my book. I know that I'm a tad biased here but based on his performance tonight, if he loses out on the hardware then no west coast baseball player will ever win another award. Weaver took the ball and inspired his team to a rather easy victory. But it was not his pitching that did it but his demeanor on the mound and his tone throughout the game. He was barking at the umps, yelling at his team and breathing fire like a madman from the first pitch. It's exactly what I want in my ace. Even when he got some run support, he didn't let up and finished with a solid 8 innings. I sure hope Arte starts saving his pennies because he is going to have to pay Weaver a lot of them to keep him in Halo Red.

Angels 7 Dodgers 1

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Los Angeles Dodgers (37-46) @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (42-41)

Pitching Probables: LAD -- Clayton Kershaw (8-3, 2.93 ERA)  LAA – Jered Weaver (9-4, 1.97 ERA) 

Game Info: 6:05 PM PT; TV - FS-West; Radio - KLAA 830 AM

I can't remember when I was this excited for a regular season game. I am jacked to see what these two guys throw at us tonight. I have been blasting AC/DC and Metallica all morning getting pysched up for this game. I am wearing my Angel's Jersey, Hat and my glove while I type this out. I am that excited for this game.

(too much?)

Yeah, I think we all need to calm down a bit. When I woke up this morning and checked my Twitter feed, even Peter Gammons commented on the pitching match-up. Buster Olney made mention of it. This in and of itself is a historic occassion, since I wasn't sure those guys knew they played baseball out here on the west coast. But it is a good duel and should be a low scoring, edge of your seat kind of game. The real question is which offense can scratch a run or two across. Let's just hope it doesn't get decided by a bogus blown call by the umps this time.