2025-09-17 Angels at Brewers Matchup Preview

Pitching Matchup

The Los Angeles Angels will send Jose Soriano to the mound, while the Milwaukee Brewers will counter with Brandon Woodruff. Soriano will need to be on top of his game as he faces a Brewers lineup eager to capitalize on mistakes. Woodruff will look to continue his strong season and shut down the Angels' offense.

Angels' Perspective

Jose Soriano's effectiveness hinges on his ability to command his fastball and mix in his secondary pitches effectively. He showcases an above-average velocity on his fastball, which he will try to leverage to get ahead in counts against the Brewers' hitters. His slider demonstrates sharp movement, which could be a key to inducing weak contact or generating swings and misses. He'll need to be cautious when throwing it, as Brewers' hitters have demonstrated a penchant for punishing pitches left over the plate. His changeup, while still developing, could be a valuable weapon to disrupt the timing of Milwaukee's right-handed hitters. His sinker will be deployed to induce groundballs and is a solid pitch to use for double play situations. If Soriano can consistently locate his pitches and avoid prolonged stretches of wildness, he could provide a quality start for the Angels.

Brewers' Perspective

Brandon Woodruff brings a wealth of experience and a diverse arsenal to the mound for the Brewers. His fastball features excellent velocity and late life, making it a challenging pitch for hitters to barrel up. He complements his fastball with a biting curveball that dives sharply, generating swings and misses from both right-handed and left-handed hitters. His changeup has solid arm side movement and will be a good counter-weapon against the Angels' left-handed bats in the lineup. He also sports a two-seam fastball that will cause fits with the Angels, with a number of ground balls likely. Woodruff's ability to consistently locate his pitches and vary his delivery makes him a tough matchup for any lineup. The Angels will need to be disciplined at the plate and avoid chasing pitches out of the strike zone to have success against him.

Angels' Hitting

The Los Angeles Angels offense has posted a team weighted on-base average of 0.322, indicating a solid, but not exceptional, ability to get on base. Their team has accumulated 7.2 Wins Above Replacement, which illustrates that they have players contributing positively to the team's overall performance. The Angels have been around the league average when it comes to walk percentage at 8.1%, showing they are patient enough to not swing at bad pitches but don't draw walks as often as some other teams. They will need to take advantage of mistakes made by Woodruff, as he is not one to make many mistakes over the plate. It's key for the Angels' hitters to focus on driving pitches that are up in the zone, as they have had success in the past when hitting pitches up in the zone for extra bases and will need to execute on a high level to come out victorious.

Brewers' Hitting

The Milwaukee Brewers offense demonstrates a stronger overall profile, having posted a team weighted on-base average of 0.321. The Brewers' lineup has generated an impressive 25.8 Wins Above Replacement, revealing that they have impactful talent that significantly contributes to their success. The team's strikeout percentage of 21.9% suggests they are aggressive at the plate, but they are also prone to striking out at a higher rate. The team has an above average walk percentage of 8.8% showing that they will take a walk if offered to them. They will look to capitalize on any mistakes made by Soriano, who can be prone to mistakes. The Brewers have been able to hit fastballs that are down in the zone with good success so Soriano will need to adjust his strategy when throwing fastballs to the Brewers.

Key Matchup

The pivotal matchup will be how well Jose Soriano can command his fastball against the patient Brewers lineup. If he falls behind in counts, he will be forced to throw hittable pitches, which the Brewers will punish. Conversely, Brandon Woodruff's ability to locate his curveball will be crucial in keeping the Angels' hitters off balance. If he can consistently land his curveball for strikes, he can effectively neutralize their power.

Prediction

This game has the potential to be a tightly contested affair. Soriano's tendency to be wild with his pitches could lead to opportunities for the Brewers to manufacture runs. However, Woodruff's ability to limit mistakes and induce weak contact gives the Brewers a slight edge. The Angels will need to capitalize on any opportunities they get, but Woodruff will likely keep them at bay, while the Brewers will eke out enough runs against Soriano.

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