The Dog Days of August: Los Angeles Angels

Jered Weaver isn't just battling Justin Verlander for the AL Cy Young Award, he's having a season for the ages, with a 1.78 ERA and 36 runs allowed in 24 starts. He's yet to allow more than four runs in a game this season, and he's allowed four just twice. Weaver is going to have to keep this up, however, because the Angels don't score many runs -- they're 13th in the American League, averaging 3.85 per game. -- David Schoenfield, SweetSpot Who needs to step up? The Angels are paying Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter a combined $45.1 million in 2011 -- or more than the entire roster of the Tampa Bay Rays. Wells has 16 home runs, but an abysmal .243 on-base percentage. Yes, that's on-base percentage, not batting average. He's hitting .174 since the All-Star break. Hunter is better, but his .722 OPS is still lower than Alberto Callaspo's. -- David Schoenfield, SweetSpot Key stat: defensive runs saved