The Los Angeles Angels host the Milwaukee Brewers at Angel Stadium on Saturday, August 1, with first pitch set for 9:38 PM ET. José Soriano gets the ball for the Halos against Milwaukee left-hander Robert Gasser. With the lineup stacked top to bottom — Zach Neto leading off, Mike Trout batting second, and Jorge Soler anchoring the cleanup spot — the Angels have the offensive firepower to make this an entertaining Saturday night in Anaheim. How the pitching holds up on both sides is the real question.

Starting Pitching Matchup: Soriano vs. Gasser

José Soriano draws the start for Los Angeles. The right-hander has shown flashes of the stuff that makes him an intriguing piece of the Angels' rotation picture, and a strong outing here would go a long way toward reinforcing his role going forward. This is the kind of start where Soriano needs to work deep into the game and give the bullpen some rest.

Robert Gasser counters for the Brewers. The left-hander is a legitimate arm Milwaukee has been building around, and he'll get a serious test facing an Angels lineup that has genuine run-producing potential from top to bottom. Left-handed starters always carry a different dynamic against this group, so watch how manager Ron Washington sets up the at-bats early.

Angels Lineup: Plenty of Firepower on the Card

The Angels are sending out a lineup worth getting excited about. Here's how they're lined up Saturday night:

• Zach Neto — SS
• Mike Trout — CF
• Nolan Schanuel — 1B
• Jorge Soler — DH
• Vaughn Grissom — 2B
• Jo Adell — RF
• Travis d'Arnaud — C
• Denzer Guzman — 3B
• Jose Siri — LF

Neto at the top sets the table, and Trout in the two-hole means Schanuel and Soler are seeing pitches with runners already in motion. That's a dangerous 3-4 combination for any opposing starter. Grissom and Adell in the five and six spots give this order legitimate middle-of-the-lineup depth, and Siri at the bottom brings speed and unpredictability that can change an inning in a hurry.

Keys to Watch Saturday Night

Soriano's Command Early

Gasser has enough to keep hitters off balance if he establishes rhythm, but the same is true for Soriano. If the Angels' starter can pound the zone and avoid deep counts, he keeps his pitch count manageable and the Angels' bullpen fresh for the weekend stretch.

Trout's At-Bats Against Gasser

Left-on-left matchups are always a storyline when a southpaw starts, but Mike Trout hitting in the two-hole against any pitcher is appointment baseball. His at-bats set the tone for how the middle of the order approaches the night.

Denzer Guzman at Third

The young third baseman gets another opportunity to show what he can do in a meaningful situation. Guzman hitting eighth keeps the pressure lower, but every at-bat for a developing player builds toward something bigger.

Prediction

The Angels' lineup has enough depth to put up a competitive number against Gasser, and Soriano pitching at home in front of the Angel Stadium crowd is a favorable setup. Give me the Angels in this one, 5-3, with Soler doing damage in the middle innings and Soriano grinding through five solid frames before the bullpen closes it out.