Like the rest of their division, the Angels are average. They’re in the middle of the pack in hitting and pitching, barely over .500, yet just 3.5 games behind the first place A’s, but also just 2.5 games ahead of the last-place M’s. Ho hum.

If there’s anything compelling about this Angels team, which is enduring Vlad Guerrero’s least productive season since he was a 21-year-old rookie with the Expos in 1997, it’s the glimpses into their future this season has brought. Jered Weaver, Howie Kendrick, Kendry Moralis, Mike Napoli and tonight’s starter Joe Saunders have all made their major league debuts this season, though with varying success.

As for Saunders, he’s made three starts since being called up to replaced the injured Bartolo Colon in the rotation, each of them nearly identical to the next. Here’s his average line: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 5 K. He did something like that against Cleveland, Oakland and Texas in his first three starts, winning each. Tonight, however, will be his first major league road start. It will be interesting to see how the 25-year-old lefty from Falls Church, Virgina responds to his first appearance in Yankee Stadium.

Cory Lidle, meanwhile, will be making just his second start as a Yankee, both coming in home pinstripes. In his last, eight days ago, he held the Blue Jays to one run on a solo homer by rookie Ryan Roberts, allowing just three other hits, walking two and striking out five in six innings on a brutally hot afternoon (the box score temperature was 97 degrees and you know it was well into triple digits on the field). With the weather having cooled nicely (beautifully, in fact, current temp is 77 with a soft breeze), the hope is that Lidle can go deeper tonight. After all, it only took him 80 pitches to get through those six innings last week.

Los Angeles de Los Angeles de Anaheim

2006 Record: 59-56 (.513)
2006 Pythagorean Record: 59-56 (.516)

Manager: Mike Scioscia
General Manager: Bill Stoneman

Home Ballpark (2005 Park Factors): Angel Stadium (96/96)

Who’s Replaced Whom?

• Howie Kendrick replaced Casey Kotchman (DL)
• Curtis Pride replaced Darin Erstad (DL) on the roster, while Maicer Izturis replaces Erstad in the line-up by way of Chone Figgins moving to center
• Michael Napoli replaced Jeff Mathis (minors)
• Jered Weaver replaced Jeff Weaver
• Joe Sauders replaced Bartolo Colon (DL)
• Kevin Gregg replaced Esteban Yan
• Chris Bootcheck replaced Edgardo Alfonzo

Current Roster

1B – Casey Kotchman (L)
2B – Adam Kennedy (L)
SS – Orlando Cabrera (R)
3B – Maicer Izturis (S)
C – Jose Molina (R)
RF – Vladimir Guerrero (R)
CF – Chone Figgins (S)
LF – Garret Anderson (L)
DH – Juan Rivera (R)

Bench:

R – Tim Salmon (OF)
R – Robb Quinlan (IF)
L – Curtis Pride (OF)
R – Michael Napoli (C)

Rotation:

R – Jered Weaver
R – John Lackey
R – Ervin Santana
L – Joe Saunders
R – Kelvim Escobar

Bullpen:

R – Francisco Rodriguez
R – Scot Shields
L – J.C. Romero
R – Brendan Donnelly
R – Hector Carrasco
R – Kevin Gregg
R – Chris Bootcheck

DL: R – Bartolo Colon, L – Darin Erstad (OF), L – Casey Kotchman (1B), L – Dallas McPherson (3B)

Typical Lineup

S – Chone Figgins (CF)
S – Maicer Izturis (3B)
R – Orlando Cabrera (SS)
R – Vladimir Guerrero (RF)
R – Juan Rivera (DH)
L – Garret Anderson (LF)
R – Howie Kendrick (1B)
L – Adam Kennedy (2B)
R – Jose Molina (C)