Matthew Lugo likely to get longer look as Angels host Orioles

The Los Angeles Angels likely will give another opportunity to a young player with considerable potential when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night in Anaheim, Calif.

Outfielder Matthew Lugo was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday, his 24th birthday. He likely will make his first major league start on either Saturday or Sunday.

Lugo made his major league debut in Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Orioles, entering as a pinch runner in the eighth inning and manning center field in the ninth.

The Angels are hoping Lugo realizes the promise that shortstop Zach Neto and catcher Logan O’Hoppe have shown so far after getting major league opportunities.

The Angels acquired Lugo last season in a trade deadline deal with the Red Sox, sending reliever Luis Garcia to Boston. Lugo had a good spring training and nearly made the major league team before settling in at Salt Lake.

Lugo got off to a slow start with the Bees but he’s turned it on of late. He was hitting .212 with four homers, nine doubles, 18 RBIs and a .656 OPS in 35 games.

“I feel like when the season started, I was a little bit more conscious of swing decisions, and that made me be a little bit more late on the fastball,” Lugo said. “And now I’m just trying to be on time for the heater. And I’ve been seeing the ball very well and recognizing the pitches very well, and my swing just takes over after that.”

Right hander Jack Kochanowicz (1-5, 5.79 ERA) will make his eighth start of the season Saturday for Los Angeles.

He is coming off a loss to the Detroit Tigers after allowing five runs and seven hits in five innings. He has yet to face the Orioles in his career.

Right-hander Kyle Gibson (0-1, 14.09) will make his third start of the season for the Orioles, having joined the major league roster April 28 after spending the first month of the season in the minors.

Gibson, who signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with Baltimore, is 4-5 with a 5.83 ERA in 15 career starts against the Angels. At age 37 and with 13 years of major league experience, Gibson is being counted on to provide a veteran presence in the clubhouse.

He left a good impression with the Orioles organization, playing in Baltimore in 2023 and winning 15 games.

“I’m thankful that these guys welcomed us a couple years ago and we were able to have so much fun, because they had an impact on me, too, you know? In a lot of different ways,” Gibson said. “Hopefully, I can still fit in with these guys. I know I’m two years older now, so hopefully, they don’t hold that against me.”

Gibson’s reputation not only impresses the team’s younger players, but also a 41-year-old veteran like pitcher Charlie Morton.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things, and (Gibson) seems like a great dude. Phenomenal career. When I saw that (Gibson signed), I was excited,” Morton said. “I mean, guys were talking about Kyle to me when I first got here. They were like, ‘Oh yeah, Kyle was this guy in the clubhouse. Gibby was one of the best guys I’ve been around. A great teammate.'”

–Field Level Media