The Los Angeles Angels welcome the Philadelphia Phillies to Angel Stadium on Friday, August 28, for a 9:38 PM ET first pitch. Reid Detmers gets the ball for the Halos against Phillies right-hander Andrew Painter in what shapes up as an intriguing interleague pitching matchup. With the regular season winding toward its final weeks, every game carries weight, and the Angels will be looking to protect their home turf against a Phillies club that travels well.

Pitching Matchup: Detmers vs. Painter

Reid Detmers has been the Angels' most reliable homegrown arm in recent seasons, a left-hander with a sharp breaking ball capable of keeping any lineup off balance. He'll need to be at his best Friday against a Philadelphia lineup that consistently puts together quality at-bats.

Andrew Painter is one of the more intriguing young arms in the National League. The Phillies right-hander has shown the kind of stuff that makes him a handful on any given night. Painter versus a lineup that features Mike Trout batting second is a compelling subplot — that's a matchup worth watching early and often.

Angels Starting Lineup

• 1. Zach Neto, SS
• 2. Mike Trout, CF
• 3. Wade Meckler, LF
• 4. Vaughn Grissom, 1B
• 5. Moisés Ballesteros, DH
• 6. Christian Moore, 2B
• 7. Josh Lowe, RF
• 8. Denzer Guzman, 3B
• 9. Tyler Heineman, C

Keys to Watch

Zach Neto Setting the Table

Neto leading off is essential to how this offense functions. When he gets on base and creates chaos on the basepaths, it opens everything up for Trout batting behind him. The Angels need Neto to make Painter work early and set the tone for the entire lineup.

Mike Trout vs. a Young Ace

Trout batting second against a high-end pitching prospect like Painter is one of the better individual storylines of this series opener. Trout's at-bats against elite arms are always worth your full attention. How Painter handles that challenge will tell you a lot about where he is as a pitcher.

The Bottom Third of the Lineup

Christian Moore, Josh Lowe, Denzer Guzman, and Tyler Heineman batting sixth through ninth is a portion of this lineup that needs to contribute. If those hitters can extend innings and put pressure on Painter and the Philadelphia bullpen, the Angels' offense becomes significantly more dangerous.

Detmers' Command

Detmers is at his best when he's commanding both sides of the plate and keeping hitters guessing with his changeup. Against a disciplined Philadelphia lineup, walk prevention and limiting hard contact will be the keys to a quality start.

Prediction

This has the feel of a tight, low-scoring game where pitching dominates early. Detmers at home at Angel Stadium with a crowd behind him is a favorable setup. The Angels' lineup has enough in the top half — Neto, Trout, Meckler, Grissom — to scratch out enough runs against even a talented young arm. Look for the Angels to take the opener, 3-2, in a game that probably comes down to the late innings.

Catch the game on NBCSP or ABTV, presented by Pechanga Resort Casino, or tune in on KLAA 830 on the radio dial.