The Philadelphia Phillies head west for a late-night matchup at Angel Stadium on Saturday, August 29, squaring off against the Los Angeles Angels at 10:07 PM ET. Cristopher Sánchez gets the ball for Philadelphia against Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson. This is a regular season game with playoff positioning on the line, and the Phillies cannot afford to let a series slip away to an Angels club that will have Mike Trout in the lineup. Catch the action on NBCSP or listen in on 94 WIP.

Phillies vs. Angels Pitching Matchup: Sánchez vs. Johnson

Cristopher Sánchez takes the hill representing the Phillies in this one. The left-hander has carved out a real role in Philadelphia's rotation with his ability to generate weak contact and work efficiently through lineups. Saturday night will test him against an Angels order that has some legitimate pop, particularly in the middle of the lineup.

On the other side, Ryan Johnson gets the nod for Los Angeles. Johnson is a name Phillies fans may not know well, which means Philadelphia's hitters will need to do their homework early, work counts, and make him prove he can get through a big-league lineup multiple times.

Los Angeles Angels Lineup to Watch

Do not let the Angels' record fool you into sleeping on this lineup. Mike Trout bats second in center field, and at full health Trout remains one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball regardless of era. Leadoff man Zach Neto at shortstop has developed into a legitimate threat at the top of the order, and Vaughn Grissom hitting third at first base gives the Angels a left-handed bat with gap power that Sánchez will need to navigate carefully.

Jose Siri batting cleanup brings elite speed and a live bat, and rookie Christian Moore at second base is a name to watch. Veterans Oswald Peraza and Travis d'Arnaud round out the middle of the order, giving the Angels experience behind the younger pieces.

Keys to the Game for Philadelphia

• Sánchez limits the damage early: Angel Stadium can get loud fast when the home team jumps ahead. If Sánchez can navigate the Trout-Grissom-Siri portion of the order cleanly in the first two innings, he sets the tone for the night.
• Make Johnson work: An unfamiliar starter is an opportunity. The Phillies' lineup needs to grind counts, get into the bullpen, and not let Johnson find an easy rhythm with quick outs.
• Control the running game: Jose Siri and Zach Neto can create havoc on the bases. Philadelphia's battery needs to be attentive and keep runners from manufacturing runs against them.
• Win the late innings: A 10:07 PM ET start on the West Coast is a grind. Whoever manages their bullpen better in the seventh through ninth innings likely wins this game.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for Philadelphia. Sánchez has the profile to handle this Angels lineup — he works to contact, limits walks, and keeps the ball in the ballpark. The Phillies' offense should be able to chip away against an Angels bullpen that will be leaned on heavily if Johnson exits early. Phillies win a tightly contested road game, 4–2.