The Oakland Athletics will look to close out a crucial four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday afternoon in Anaheim.
The A's, who enter Thursday's play trailing the A.L. West-leading Texas Rangers by three games, will send left-hander Brett Anderson (4-0, 0.69) to the mound. Anderson, who is coming off a 13-month rehab stint after Tommy John surgery, has been a huge boost down the stretch to an already strong A's starting rotation.
The Angels will counter with their ace, Jered Weaver (16-4, 2.86), who is returning to the rotation after battling biceps tendonitis. The tendonitis flared up after he was hit in the right shoulder with a line drive off the bat of Seattle Mariners' second baseman Dustin Ackley in early September.
The A's have 3½-game lead over the Angels in the A.L. West standings heading into Thursday's play.
First pitch is slated for 12:35 p.m. PT, and the game will be televised on CSNCA.
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