Former high school rivals Patrick Sandoval of the Los Angeles Angels and Kolby Allard of the Texas Rangers will match up for the first time as major leaguers when they take the mound on Saturday evening in Arlington, Texas.
Sandoval graduated from Mission Viejo High School in 2015, the same year Allard graduated from San Clemente High School. Both left-handers played in the six-team South Coast League in South Orange County, Calif.
Allard, the 14th overall pick by the Atlanta Braves in 2015, hopes to continue taking advantage of the opportunity that opened up in the rotation when two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber was shut down with a tear in his throwing shoulder.