Weaver aims to mix up looks against KC runners
Angels' Game 1 starter allowed 25 steals on 30 attempts in regular season
ANAHEIM -- Jered Weaver's quick pickoff move and veteran experience hasn't stopped teams from running on him this season. Instead, they've exploited his long delivery and reliance on off-speed pitches to take an extra base.
In the regular season, teams were 25-for-30 (83 percent) on stolen bases against Weaver, the second consecutive season his numbers were worse than the league average. In 2013, only one of 14 runners was caught stealing.
Weaver's struggles to limit the running game could loom large Thursday night against Kansas City, which led the Majors with 153 stolen bases in the regular season. They tied a playoff record with seven in their Wild Card win over Oakland on Tuesday.
Only one other American League pitcher (Houston's Scott Feldman) allowed more stolen bases than Weaver's 25. This season was Weaver's second where teams attempted at least 30 steals.
How would he try to slow the up-tempo Royals?
"You just try to mix up times, try to mix up how long you hold the ball for, just the little things to try to put a damper in their running game as much as possible," Weaver said.