Ramirez takes mound as Angels host Orioles

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The hard-working schedule-makers in baseball can be forgiven for the occasional scheduling quirk in matchups, like the one that has the Los Angeles Angels meeting the Baltimore Orioles for the first time this season in August.

All it really does is force the two teams to toss those scouting reports from April away and put together new ones 110 or so games into the season ahead of the opener of a three-game series Monday at Angel Stadium. For example, back in spring training, JC Ramirez was a reliever. Now he is a starter, and he leads Los Angeles in wins.

Ramirez (10-9, 4.03 ERA) has been the most consistent Angels starter since May, when he moved into the rotation after 111 career appearances, all in relief. The upshot is that the Nicaragua native who turns 29 next week has turned himself from one of the faceless millions of middle-inning relievers to a guy with credentials and greater job opportunities.

When Mike Scioscia was asked if Ramirez has shed the bullpen cloak, the Los Angeles manager reminded everyone that every Angels pitcher, thanks to injuries, slumps and everyday soreness, is on a day-to-day existence.

"All I can guarantee is that he's on tap for his next start," Scioscia said.

Ramirez is in his fourth season in the majors, but his major league service time status at season's end will be two-plus seasons. He is unsigned but under control of the team, and he can't go to arbitration until 2019. In a perfect world, he can use his starting experience as some leverage to earn more than the $550,000 he is making in 2017.

"People don't realize how difficult it is to transition from the bullpen to being a starter," Scioscia said. "JC has handled it about as well as I've seen anyone on such short notice, and he's gotten better as the season has gone on."

Ramirez threw eight shutout innings his last time out, a 7-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. He has faced the Orioles twice, both times in relief for a combined 1 2/3 innings of one-run ball.

The Orioles' Monday starter, Dylan Bundy (10-8, 4.24 ERA), has been a steady part of the Baltimore rotation. He had 10 quality starts in his first 11 outings, then began to lose some effectiveness in June. In his past 10 appearances, he has recorded only had four quality starts and has gone six innings or more just four times.

The Orioles decided he needed some additional rest, so they revamped their rotation so he would be fresh. Working on eight days' rest, Bundy shined in his latest outing -- eight innings, three hits and one unearned run against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.

"Dylan was outstanding," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "That was fun to watch. He had everything working. Keep in mind he had eight days off, too. This time of year, anytime you get a little extra rest helps. He was strong. He was carrying a little more fastball."

Bundy will have had five days off when he throws Monday. He has faced the Angels once, in 2016, when he gave up four runs in a 1 1/3-inning relief effort.

Angels center fielder Mike Trout turns 26 on Monday. He has a hit in his only career at-bat vs. Bundy. Trout is riding a nine-game hitting streak, and he has three homers and six RBIs in his past five games.