Blue Jays at Angels
Aaron Sanchez's first career start in Anaheim didn't go well last season and he looks for better fortune when the Toronto Blue Jays visit the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday in the finale of a three-game set. Sanchez gave up two runs in one inning June 21 before departing with an index finger injury that would keep him out for more than two months.
Sanchez later revealed that he had suffered the injury earlier in the day when his finger got caught in a suitcase but he didn't want to miss the start as 180 family members and friends made the approximate 108-mile drive from his hometown of Barstow. He will look to help the Blue Jays salvage the finale of the series after Los Angeles recorded 4-3 and 6-3 victories to increase its hot streak to five wins in the past six games. Angels star Mike Trout was 2-for-4 with a three-run double in Wednesday's victory and set a franchise record by reaching base safely in his 28th straight game to start the season, eclipsing the mark set by Darin Erstad in 2000. Toronto rookie Vladimir Guerrero Jr. struck out twice in four hitless at-bats and is 3-for-18 in his first five major league contests.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, Sportsnet 360 (Toronto), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (3-1, 2.32 ERA) vs. Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (2-2, 3.15)
Sanchez defeated the Oakland Athletics in his last start when he gave up one unearned run and two hits over five innings. The 26-year-old has pitched more than five innings just twice in six starts as he has been hindered by control issues with 20 walks in 31 innings. Sanchez is 0-1 with a 3.14 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against the Angels and has pitched carefully to Trout (1-for-5, three walks).
Skaggs returned from the injured list to beat Kansas City on Friday as he gave up three hits in five shutout innings. The 27-year-old injured his left ankle during a start against the Chicago White Sox on April 12, a contest in which he served up three homers in four innings. Skaggs is 2-2 with a 4.11 ERA in five career starts against the Blue Jays and received a no-decision in his lone 2018 start when he allowed three runs and six hits over five innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels DH Shohei Ohtani (elbow) won't make the trip to Monterrey, Mexico, for a two-game weekend set with the Houston Astros but could make his season debut Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers.
2. Toronto INF Eric Sogard (stomach illness) sat out Wednesday with the same issues that forced him out Tuesday but he hopes to be available on Thursday.
3. Los Angeles DH-1B Albert Pujols is hitless in eight at-bats in the series but hit a first-inning sacrifice fly Wednesday to record his 1,998th career RBI.