Angels at Cubs
The Los Angeles Angels will try to continue their romp through the National League Central when they open a three-game interleague series against the host Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon. The Angels have won six straight and are coming off a three-game sweep of Milwaukee at home.
The Cubs look to build off their first series victory of the season after closing out a three-game set against visiting Pittsburgh on Thursday with a 2-0 triumph. Chicago waited out a rain delay to win the rubber match of the series behind a dominant performance by Jose Quintana, who worked seven innings to preserve a taxed bullpen. The Angels ran their winning streak to six games with a 4-2 win over the Brewers on Wednesday despite playing without star center fielder Mike Trout, who sat out due to a right groin strain. After an off-day on Thursday, Trout - who is batting .406 with five home runs and 12 RBIs - hopes to be back in the lineup for the series opener in Chicago.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS West (Los Angeles), NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (1-1, 2.45 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Cole Hamels (1-0, 5.73)
After failing to get through five innings in his season debut at Oakland, Skaggs was strong last time out against Texas. The 27-year-old limited the Rangers to one run and five hits over 6 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking one. Skaggs faced the Cubs in 2013 but will pitch at Wrigley Field for the first time in his career.
Hamels had a tough time in his first outing of the season at Texas but bounced back with a quality start at Milwaukee on Saturday. The 35-year-old held the Brewers' potent offense to two runs and six hits while registering five strikeouts over six innings en route to his first win of 2019. Hamels is 4-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 11 career starts against the Angels.
WALK-OFFS
1. After a 4-for-24 start, Angels SS Andrelton Simmons is 7-for-23 with two doubles and a homer during a five-game hitting streak.
2. Cubs C Victor Caratini, who went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI, left Thursday’s game with a left hand injury - which the club fears is a fractured hamate bone.
3. The Angels’ bullpen has posted a collective 1.67 ERA, the best in the majors.