Orange County Register

JOE SAUNDERS (14-6, 3.37)

  The Angels’ All-Star left-hander has not won a game since July 30, though he certainly has pitched well enough in three of his four August starts. He was beaten up a little bit by the Minnesota Twins in his last start, but had allowed just seven earned runs in 18 innings in taking consecutive no-decisions against Baltimore, the New York Yankees and Cleveland. He left that game against the Orioles with a 5-1 lead, before the bullpen gave up four runs to tie the score in the top of the ninth inning. Saunders is 4-1 against Oakland in his career with an ERA of 4.02 and has been very tough on the A’s this season. He beat them at Angel Stadium on April 29, allowing only four hits in eight innings. And he beat them at home again on July 2, allowing six hits and two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings. Oakland has hit just .204 against Saunders this season.

Saunders vs. the A’s:

Ellis: 6 for 17, .353; 2 HR, 7 RBI

Thomas: 1 for 10, .100; 0 HR, 3 RBI

Davis: 3 for 9, .333; 0 HR, 1 RBI

Suzuki: 1 for 9, .111; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Brown: 1 for 9, .111; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Cust: 1 for 6, .167; 0 HR, 0 RBI 

Crosby: 1 for 6, .167; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Gonzalez: 1 for 3, .333; 0 HR, 0 RBI

Bowen: 0 for 1, .000; 0 HR, 0 RBI

GIO GONZALEZ (1-2, 6.52)

  The A’s 22-year-old left-hander will be a mystery, which gives him an advantage considering the way some young lefties have plowed through the Angels’ lineup this season. Remember Chris Waters? Matt Harrison? Sean Rodriguez is the only one on the roster who has seen Gonzalez this season, and it wouldn’t be a bad thing to pick his brain a little bit. Rodriguez faced Gonzalez twice when at Triple-A Salt Lake and went 5 for 9 with three doubles and three RBI in those games. Gonzalez will be making his fifth major league start since he was called up from Triple-A Sacramento and has pitched well in spots. He had a no-decision in his last start when allowing two earned runs in five innings at Seattle. His best start was on Aug. 12 against Tampa Bay, when he gave up only five hits and one run in five innings. He was 8-7 with an ERA of 4.24 at Sacramento.

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