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Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (30-29) @ Colorado Rockies (24-33)
Pitching Probables: LAA – Dan Haren (3-6, 3.52 ERA) COL – Jeff Francis (2-3, 5.60 ERA)
Game Info: 1:10 PM PT; TV – Fox Sports West; Radio – KLAA 830
Dan Haren has perplexed Angel fans all season. Going into the year, it was assumed he would be the “under the radar” Cy Young Candidate that would serve as the 1A to Jered Weaver’s #1. But a bad back has caused his season to be a series of fitful starts and a higher ERA than most of us ever thought he would have. The last couple of outings have been more encouraging (2-1, 1.29 ERA) but his last start against Texas was a short one leaving us wondering again what to make of Danny Boy. What was once thought to be a lock for a quality start each time out has turned into a highly questionable adventure of inefficiency.
With Jered Weaver set to return in the next week and Ervin Santana still unable to locate the strike zone, Haren’s importance to the rotation cannot be undersold. If the Angels want to get any sort of winning streak going again, Haren will need to be the pitcher we expected to see going into the year, not the one we have had so far.