Royals at Angels
Mike Trout has piled up the accolades over his distinguished nine-year major-league career, and he continued to add to his notable achievements with his only hit in Saturday's victory over the Kansas City Royals. After becoming only the sixth American League player ever to record 250 career homers before reaching the age of 28, the two-time MVP will attempt to help the Los Angeles Angels complete a three-game home sweep of the Royals on Sunday.
Trout joined Alex Rodriguez, Jimmie Foxx, Ken Griffey Jr., Mickey Mantle and Juan Gonzalez with his first-inning solo shot, which also enabled him to become one of only 13 players ever to reach 250 career home runs by his age-27 season. The seven-time All-Star finished 1-for-2 with two walks and scored half of his team's runs in Saturday's 6-3 victory, leaving the Angels (22-23) one game shy of reaching .500 for the first time since they were 8-8 on April 15. Kansas City's Whit Merrifield doubled twice for his second straight two-hit performance and is batting .389 against Los Angeles this season. His teammates haven't been of much help in the series, however, going a combined 10-for-57 with nine singles.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (2-1, 3.97 ERA) vs. Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (4-3, 5.05)
Duffy gave up a season-high four runs over five innings against Texas on Tuesday but notched his second victory in as many starts after the Royals staked him to an early nine-run lead. The 30-year-old got a late start to the season due to persistent shoulder soreness but held his own in his road turn, limiting Houston to two runs in 6 2/3 frames on May 7. Trout is 7-for-17 with a homer and three RBIs versus Duffy, who is 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) against the Angels.
Skaggs surrendered his first two homers in four starts but still won for the third time in four outings Monday at Minnesota despite allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. The former first-round draft pick should be happy to return home, where he is 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two turns as opposed to 2-3 with a 6.56 mark in five road starts. Skaggs' 0.35 career ERA versus Kansas City is the best ever by a pitcher who has worked at least 20 innings against the Royals.
WALK-OFFS
1. Trout has reached base at least three times in a contest on 305 occasions during his career, more than double the amount of games in which he has been kept off the basepaths (148).
2. Dating back to last season's All-Star Game, Merrifield (35) and Royals teammate Adalberto Mondesi (44) rank second and first, respectively, in the majors in stolen bases.
3. Los Angeles DH Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run homer on Saturday and is batting .385 during his six-game hitting streak.