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Angels, Facing Tigers, Try to Keep Approach Simple
This season, Zach Neto’s power has many people surprised. He and Jim Fregosi are the only other shortstops in Los Angeles Angels history to have hit at least 10 home runs before the All-Star break. Nonetheless, as the Angels plan to confront the Detroit Tigers on Friday in Anaheim, Calif., Neto’s emphasis won’t be on hitting homers. Angels supervisor Ron Washington is guaranteeing Neto keeps things straightforward.
Neto’s Approach
In Wednesday’s down against the Oakland A’s, Neto struck out and jumped out in his initial two at-bats. Baffled, he went to the iPad to examine his swings.
“I was frustrated early in the game with my at-bats and I looked at my iPad, but Wash came over and told me I wasn’t going to find the answer there,” Neto said. “He told me to tone down my swing, put the head on the ball, and that I have enough power to drive the ball out of the ballpark or hit the ball hard. I took it into the next at-bat, and it just so happened to be the double.”
That double was a bases-clearing, three-run hit that proved pivotal in the Angels’ 5-2 victory. Washington’s advice showcased an old-school approach, emphasizing making contact over relying on analytics.
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“What he showed me he could do is stop trying to hit the ball out of the ballpark and make contact,” Washington said. “I’d been talking to him about that all day. He was looking at his iPad and I said, ‘You’re not gonna find the answer there. All you gotta do is put the head on the ball.’ And that’s what he did.”
Recent Performance
Neto continued to contribute in Thursday’s 5-0 win over the Tigers, going 1-for-3 with a double, a run, a walk, and a stolen base. The Angels are hoping for more of the same as they look to build momentum.
Pitching Matchup
Zach Plesac
Angels right-hander Zach Plesac (1-1, 8.68 ERA) will start on Friday, seeking better results. After starting the season at Triple-A Salt Lake, Plesac won his first major league start of the year on June 17 against the Milwaukee Brewers. However, he struggled in his last outing, allowing six runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Plesac has had success against the Tigers in his career, posting a 4-3 record with a 2.54 ERA in 11 starts.
Kenta Maeda
The Tigers will counter with right-hander Kenta Maeda (2-4, 6.00 ERA), making his 14th start of the season. Maeda has struggled recently, going winless in his past five starts with a 6.38 ERA in that span.
Maeda has a career record of 2-4 with a 4.41 ERA in seven games (six starts) against the Angels, though he hasn’t faced them since 2021.
Tigers’ Offensive Struggles
The Tigers’ offense ranks among the lower half of the league in nearly all categories. Thursday’s loss marked the ninth time this season they were shut out. Riley Greene collected two of Detroit’s four hits, and the team struck out eight times without drawing a walk.
Manager A.J. Hinch on the Offense
“When you think about hitting in general, even when we score runs, somebody has had a bad day,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We need the reverse. We’ve got to have somebody have a really good day to pick the team up with a big swing or a big hit. But you can’t just snap your fingers and do it. It’s about getting a good pitch to hit.”
Conclusion
As the Angels continue to fine-tune their approach under Ron Washington’s guidance, they aim to keep their momentum against the struggling Tigers. By focusing on simple, effective hitting, players like Zach Neto are set to make significant contributions. The pitching matchup between Zach Plesac and Kenta Maeda will be crucial as both teams look to secure a win in this interleague series.
