Game Preview/Thread #-12: Brewers (8-12) v Angels (5-12)

Fun fact: The Angels are one of just two MLB teams and the only AL team with less than eight wins this spring.

The Brewers will look to keep the Angels out of the win column today with Wily Peralta (6.23 ERA this spring, 2.45/2.65 ERA/FIP in 2012) on the mound. Peralta is making his first official spring appearance since March 9, when he held the Reds to three runs on five hits over 2.1 innings.

Peralta has, of course, never faced the Angels during the regular season. He faced them in Cactus League play on March 5, 2011 and worked two scoreless innings that are almost completely irrelevant at this point.

He'll face 30-year-old lefty Jason Vargas (4.66 ERA this spring, 3.85/4.69 ERA/FIP in 2012), who is making his fourth official spring appearance in his first season as an Angel. Vargas pitched 4.2 innings against the White Sox on Thursday and held them to a run on two hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

Vargas' biggest asset is durability: As a Mariner he's thrown 611 innings over the last three seasons with a 3.96 ERA. His control is also very good, as shown by his 2.5 BB/9 over that span. The Angels picked him up this winter in the trade that sent first baseman Kendrys Morales to Seattle.

Vargas throws a high-80's fastball with a heavy mix of changeups and the occasional cutter or curveball.

He'll face a Brewer lineup that includes Ryan Braun for the first time in weeks:

Norichika Aoki RF
Rickie Weeks 2B
Ryan Braun LF
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Jonathan Lucroy C
Alex Gonzalez 1B
Jean Segura SS
Logan Schafer CF
Wily Peralta P

While Wisconsin continues to suffer through what may be an eternal winter, it's another great day for baseball in Phoenix. Expect a game-time temperature around 79 to climb into the low 80's as the day goes along.

Enjoy the game!