Angels at Royals
The Los Angeles Angels hit the road for a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals beginning Friday after capping a 2-6 homestand with an offensive explosion. Los Angeles avoided a four-game sweep at the hands of the New York Yankees with an 11-5 victory Thursday that was highlighted by a career-high five RBIs from David Fletcher.
Teams continue to pitch around the Angels' Mike Trout, who has walked 26 times - the most in baseball - and hasn't recorded a home run or an RBI for six straight games while walking nine times during that span. Kansas City (8-17) has the fewest wins in the American League but gained some confidence after taking down reigning Cy Young winner Blake Snell and Tampa Bay 10-2 on Wednesday to snap a five-game losing streak. "... We just try to take it one game at a time,'' the Royals' Whit Merrifield told reporters. "Like I’ve said before, we’re aware of the talent we have. We’re aware of who we have, and we’ve got guys that are here to win. ... We’ve got to learn how to win games. ..." Kansas City's Danny Duffy makes his season debut Friday after shoulder tightness derailed him late in spring training and opposes fellow left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who returns after missing two weeks with a sprained ankle.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (1-2, 4.20 ERA) vs. Royals LH Danny Duffy (2018: 8-12, 4.88)
Skaggs allowed four runs and seven hits (three homers) while striking out seven in 5-1 loss to the Cubs in Chicago on April 12. The 27-year-old Californian began the season in fine fashion, yielding three runs and 10 hits with two walks against seven strikeouts over 11 innings in a victory over Texas and a setback at Oakland. Skaggs is 1-1 in three starts versus Kansas City, allowing one run and striking out 22 in 21 frames.
Duffy made a rehab start for Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Saturday, allowing an unearned run and four hits with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings on 78 pitches - 50 for strikes. “I’m excited to throw and be back in the big leagues because it feels like it’s been a long time,” the 30-year-old Californian, who had last pitched March 24 during spring training, told reporters. Trout is 6-for-14 with a home run and three walks while Albert Pujols is 2-for-15 against Duffy, who is 2-1 with a 4.06 ERA in six games (five starts) versus the Angels.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles 2B Luis Rengifo on Thursday recorded his first career hit in his second at-bat after being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to replace 3B Zack Cozart, who went on the 10-day injured list with a strained neck.
2. Royals SS Adalberto Mondesi (.283, three HRs, 20 RBIs) homered and drove in four runs Wednesday and is 5-for-9 in his last two games.
3. Angels 3B Tommy La Stella on Thursday hit his club-high seventh home run of the season after entering 2019 with 10 in his five-year career.