The Angels will be without catcher Mike Napoli, who was placed on the 15-day DL for shoulder inflammation. Ryan Budde was called up from Salt Lake to take the roster spot.
The return of Kelvim Escobar is growing more questionable, as he may have to undergo surgery for his shoulder. He will visit a specialst today and if surgery is needed, Escobar will definitely miss the rest of the season and possibly up to half of next season.
The Angels leave town and head out for a seven-game road trip beginning in Texas. They still hold the best road record in all of baseball, and winning three of the next seven will break the club record of most wins before the All-Star break, which is 55 set in 1979. Ervin Santana will take the mound Monday and face Luis Mendoza. All-Star Santana will look to get his win total at double digits; he is 5-4 lifetime against the Rangers including a win earlier this season. Mendoza is 1-2 but hasn’t earned a win as a starter since last September.
All-Star Joe Saunders is scheduled to pitch on Tuesday, but he may be scratched from taking the mound depending on the birth of his first baby with his wife.
