55 Joe Blanton, SP

Angels starter Joe Blanton could be the odd pitcher out of the rotation when Jered Weaver is able to return from the disabled list, the Los Angeles Times speculates Tuesday. 

Weaver is making what could be his last extended spring training appearance Wednesday on the same day that Blanton is scheduled to start next. 

Blanton is 0-7 on the year with an ugly 6.62 ERA after nine starts. His WHIP is 1.97 and he's struck out 35 over 50 1/3 innings. 

Angels starting pitcher Joe Blanton allowed 11 hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings Saturday against the White Sox, striking out six and allowing four earned runs. He was on the hook for the loss when he left the game, but the Angels took the lead in the bottom of the fifth.

Blanton's time in the rotation could be coming to an end with Jered Weaver and Tommy Hanson expected to rejoin the Angels soon. Blanton, who has allowed 23 hits in nine innings over his last two starts, could face the Royals next weekend.

Despite his personal assessment, Angels pitcher Joe Blanton continues to be hit hard during his first season with the club as his winless streak reaches historic levels. Blanton dropped to 0-7 following his loss to Kansas City on Monday night as he matched his shortest outing of the season at 4 2/3 innings.

In all eight of his starts, the right-hander has been tagged for at least seven runs and currently owns a 6.46 ERA. It's the first time in the Angels' 53-year history that they have been on the losing end in all of a pitcher's first eight starts in a season.

"I felt like I threw the ball good tonight and my stuff was good," Blanton said. "When they made contact they found holes, broken-bat balls fell in for singles and balls bounced their way down the lines. It was one of those weird games. There were a couple of innings where I was one pitch away from it. But they got a couple of two-out hits that cost me three or four of those runs."

Angels starter Joe Blanton was hit early and often during Monday's series opener against the Royals. Blanton allowed a season-high seven runs on 12 hits over 4 2/3 innings in an 11-4 defeat, including an RBI double off the bat of Billy Butler in the opening frame.

However, most of the damage he surrendered came in the fifth as Kansas City plated three runs, including two on a two-run double by Salvador Perez, which chased Blanton from the game.

He was pulled after throwing 99 pitches and finished with seven strikeouts and no walks, while taking his seventh loss.

Blanton (0-7) will look to get in the win column when he faces the White Sox Saturday afternoon.