Angels turn to Weaver against Athletics

Jered Weaver will try to get the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim back on track tonight when they open a four-game set against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium.

The Angels return home licking their wounds a bit after a 2-4 road trip that culminated with an 11-5 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday. Mark Trumbo and Chris Iannetta each homered in defeat for Los Angeles, which has won just three of nine to start the season.

Jerome Williams (0-1) didn't make it out of the third inning in his first start of the season and was tagged for five runs on five hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings.

"I think we're going to get out of this funk," Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said. "Everything's going to be fine."

After using his bullpen for 5 1/3 innings last night Angels' manager Mike Scioscia will need a big effort from Weaver tonight, but he enters this start following a miserable effort his last time out. After scattering four hits in eight scoreless innings to win his debut, Weaver was roughed up by the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday for five runs and seven hits in six innings. He also struck out seven and avoided a decision in his team's 6-5 loss that night.

"I felt good, just left a couple pitches up and fell behind," Weaver said after the start. "Anytime you do that in a big league game, it's going to affect you."

Weaver has had trouble finding the win column against A's over the course of his career, posting a 6-7 mark, but has pitched well, as evidenced by a 2.85 ERA in 20 starts. He has a 1.63 ERA in eight career home starts against Oakland, but just a 2-3 record to show for it due to a 2.9 run-support average.

Oakland, meanwhile, dropped the final two of their three-game series with the Seattle Mariners over the weekend, falling 5-3 in Sunday's finale at Safeco Field.

Graham Godfrey (0-2) took the loss, allowing five runs -- three earned -- on six hits over five innings.

"I was a little disappointed in myself," said Godfrey. "Our offense showed some life, we get some momentum going and then I gave it right back to them. That's the one thing that will sting the most."

The A's have tallied fewer than 10 hits in each of their first 10 games, tying the record from the team's 1978 campaign.

Getting the call for the A's tonight will be righty Brandon McCarthy, who is 0-1 through three starts with a 2.50 ERA. He did not get a decision on Wednesday against Kansas City, but was impressive, allowing just two runs and six hits in six innings of a 5-4 win.

McCarthy is 1-2 lifetime versus the Angels with a 4.79 ERA in nine games (five starts).

The A's won 11 of their 19 matchups with the Angels last season. However, the Angels are 11-5 in the last 16 meetings at Angel Stadium against the A's.