It's Saunders (and possibly everybody else) in Game 6 - MLB

Saturday’s postponement gave manager
Mike Scioscia an opportunity to start Jered Weaver on regular rest,
however he will go ahead with Joe Saunders, as scheduled, against Andy
Pettitte. Saunders allowed two runs over seven innings as part of a
no-decision in Game 2.

With their backs against the wall, it will be all hands on deck for the Angels. John Lackey, Jered Weaver, Scott Kazmir and Ervin Santana will all be available out of the bullpen, if necessary.

“It’s going to give us some more options to look at, absolutely,” Scioscia
said. “We’ll have our whole staff out there tomorrow. Lackey is still
in play tomorrow. We’ll get through Game 6. There’s no sense talking
about a Game 7.”

Though Lackey is available in Game
6, Scioscia will surely try to save his horse for a possible Game 7.
The Angels still have some work to do, but it’s pretty clear who will
get the call if there’s a decisive game, at least according to Weaver.

“Yeah, I would think so,” he said. “That’s our horse. He’s a guy who
loves pitching in big games. We all do. He’s obviously had a little
more experience in that regard. Whatever they do that’s best for the
team, I’m good with that.”

BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Orioles signed outfielder Aaron Hicks less than 24 hours after Cedric Mullins went down with a strained right groin.

Mullins went on the 10-day injured list, but the Orioles are hoping Hicks can help defensively in the spacious outfield at Camden Yards. Hicks was released last week by the New York Yankees with more than 2 1/2 seasons left on his contract.

“We had noticed that he was a free agent even before the injury,” Orioles general manager Mike Elias said. “When the injury occurred and it became pretty clear this was going to be an IL, it seemed like a good fit even more so at that time.”

The Orioles are responsible for paying Hicks just $483,871, a prorated share of the $720,000 minimum salary. The Yankees owe him the rest of his $10.5 million salary this year, plus $9.5 million in each of the next two seasons and a $1 million buyout of a 2026 team option.

The 33-year-old Hicks hit just .188 in 28 games for the Yankees this year.

“We have stuff that we look at from a scouting and evaluation perspective,” Elias said. “It’s very different from just looking at the back of a baseball card, and we hope that we get a bounceback from anyone we bring here.”

Hicks batted .216 last season.

“Hopefully that’s a good thing for him,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the Baltimore deal. “A lot of time here and a lot of good things happened for him here. I know the last couple of years have been a struggle. But hopefully it’s a good opportunity for him and certainly wish him well. Not too well being in our division and a team we’re chasing, but hopefully it’s a really good fit for him.”

Mullins left a loss to Cleveland after he pulled up while running out an infield grounder. Outfielder Colton Cowser – the fifth pick in the draft two years ago – is hitting .331 at Triple-A Norfolk, but he went on the IL in the past couple weeks.

“Certainly he was building a case towards promotion consideration prior to his injury and prior to Cedric’s injury,” Elias said. “We’ll just see where we’re at.”

Hicks was active for the game but not in the starting lineup. Austin Hays, normally Baltimore’s left field, was in Mullins’ usual spot in center.

When the wall in left at Camden Yards was pushed significantly back before last season, it made left field a bigger challenge defensively.

“In this park … you really need two center fielders,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Aaron’s got a lot of center-field experience. Played left field here before also. Brings the defensive aspect and then the switch-hitting.”