Santana to pitch out of the bullpen in playoffs

Staff Writer

Oct. 1, 2009 1:52 PM PT

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Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said Thursday that right-hander Ervin Santana will pitch out of the bullpen in the first round of the playoffs, leaving him with a rotation of John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir and Joe Saunders for the division series with Boston.

Scioscia did not say in what order those four would pitch, but he’s closing the season with Kazmir and Saunders starting the final two games in Oakland, which would leave them on schedule to start the two scheduled games in Boston.

Weaver, who would likely start Game 2 at Angel Stadium is 9-3 with a 2.90 ERA at home this season as opposed to 6-5, 5.04 on the road. Meanwhile, Kazmir is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts this summer at Fenway Park and Saunders is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA lifetime in Boston.*

-- Kevin Baxter

* An earlier version of this post said Kazmir and Saunders are a combined 10-7 at Fenway Park with an ERA below 3.00.

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Kevin Baxter

Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, four Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.