Betting Poll - Sports News - MLB - Los Angeles Angels

Matthews Jr. has small tear in knee ligament (Yahoo! Sports)

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. hopes to avoid surgery after Dr. Lewis Yocum diagnosed him...

Matthews has slight tear in left knee (AP)

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. has a slight tear in his left knee, but there are no plans to perform surgery or place him on the disabled list. "The plan now is to continue to treat it and strengthen it," Matthews said after the Angels beat the Boston Red Sox 4-2 Saturday to extend their AL West lead to eight games over the second-place Oakland Athletics.

Matthews Jr. has MRI on aching knee (Yahoo! Sports)

The Los Angeles Angels are concerned enough about the left knee of Gary Matthews Jr. that the outfielder...

Angels Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Gary Matthews Jr. knew the knee problem that prevented him from playing in the Angels' first-round playoff series last fall was probably a chronic condition.

He spent the offseason going through a rehabilitation and strengthening program for the knee. But the problem has cropped up again.

Matthews had an MRI on the knee during the All-Star break and was unavailable to play against the Red Sox when the Angels returned from the All-Star break Friday night. He is scheduled to be examined by Angels medical director Dr. Lewis Yocum to discuss the results of the MRI.

While acknowledging the pain in his knee, Matthews has said he doesn't want to use it as an excuse for his poor performance.

The best players choose the best player (Yahoo! Sports)

All-Stars were asked to pick the top player in the game. Alex Rodriguez and Josh Hamilton were the top vote-getters.

Pertinent post-All-Star break issues (Yahoo! Sports)

Questions for each team come to mind two at a time as the season enters its second half.

Divisional title won't be enough for Angels this year (Yahoo! Sports)

Their 57-38 record at the All-Star break is impressive, as is their six-game lead over Oakland in the American...

Rays, Cubs have big hopes for second half (AP)

Raise your hand if you had this in your preseason picks. Evan Longoria and the Tampa Bay Rays are sandwiched between the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees and leading the wild-card race in -- gasp! -- mid-July. The Chicago White Sox are on top in the AL Central, with the big-budget Detroit Tigers in third and Cleveland languishing in last.

Angels' Rodriguez will file for free agency (Yahoo! Sports)

Francisco Rodriguez said Monday that he plans to file for free agency after the season, setting the stage for...

Report: Angels" Rodriguez to test free agency (PA SportsTicker)

Francisco Rodriguez, the All-Star closer of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, apparently is looking for a new address.

The Highest-Paid Non-All-Stars (Yahoo! Sports)

Few of baseball's eight-figure earners make it to the Midsummer Classic.

FBI investigating swindling of Latin American prospects (Yahoo! Sports)

As players and officials at the Futures Game on Sunday spoke hopefully about the players' imminent major league...

Angels RHP Saunders scratched from start (PA SportsTicker)

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim pitcher Joe Saunders was scratched from Sunday's start against the Oakland Athletics to be with his wife, who went into labor during Saturday's game, according to a published report.

Angels place Figgins on bereavement list (PA SportsTicker)

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim third baseman Chone Figgins was placed on the bereavement list on Saturday.

Tampa Bay turnaround highlights 'crazy' first half (AP)

Tampa Bay is on top, the Chicago Cubs keep winning and Major League Baseball might add instant replay before the summer's over. What in the name of Babe Ruth is going on with this grand ol' game? Conventions are getting shattered everywhere, just like those thin-handled maple bats. Indeed, it's been a wild first half for the national pastime: one no-hitter, three fired managers and Ken Griffey Jr.'s...

Should All-Star winner get World Series home edge? (AP)

A few years ago, Paul Konerko found out exactly how much it meant to win the All-Star game. He played on the American League side that won the exhibition in 2005. That gave the AL the home-field edge in the World Series -- his Chicago White Sox then took advantage, opening with a pair of tight victories at U.S.

Angels' RHP Escobar to have season-ending surgery (AP)

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Kelvim Escobar will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum in his pitching shoulder. Escobar and the Angels made the decision to have surgery on Friday after consulting with team physician Dr. Lewis Yokum and a shoulder specialist in New York. "As this week went on, we all felt that it was moving in that direction, to have surgery," manager Mike Scioscia...

How the AL West already has been won (SportingNews.com)

Everything was stacked against the Angels, yet they perservered. And halfway through the season, with Rich Harden out of the division ... it's safe to declare them the AL West champs.

Safe at home: In MLB, home domination this year (AP)

Fans who root, root, root for the home team are leaving ballparks a lot happier this year. Home teams have won nearly 57 percent of games, the highest figure in the major leagues since 1978. They had a 778-590 record entering Thursday, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, which comes to a .569 winning percentage.

Unloading Harden is Beane's business (Yahoo! Sports)

Oakland A's GM says trading pitchers at their peak is merely business as usual, not throwing in the towel.

Do the biggest deals bring big postseason success? (Yahoo! Sports)

At the risk of looking like I'm raining on the welcoming parades for CC Sabathia and Rich Harden along the...

Guerrero says he won't defend Home Run Derby title (AP)

Vladimir Guerrero will not defend his title in the Home Run Derby during All-Star week. The Los Angeles Angels slugger plans to spend the All-Star break next week with his family after he didn't make the team as a starter or reserve. "If I go, I've got to get there at 6 a.m. the same day I have to hit, and then I have to go right back," Guerrero said, speaking in Spanish to a reporter before Tuesday...

2008 All-Star bonuses (AP)

$125,000 – Roy Halladay, Toronto $100,000 – Cliff Lee, Cleveland. $75,000 – Ryan Dempster,...

Angels manager Scioscia ejected (PA SportsTicker)

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim manager Mike Scioscia was ejected from Monday's game against the Texas Rangers in the fifth inning after arguing with home plate umpire Andy Fletcher.

Bullpen is the Angels' savior (SportingNews.com)

Gerry Fraley discusses how the Angels are atop the AL East and more ...