Athletics at Angels
The Oakland Athletics attempt to extend their road winning streak to eight games when they visit the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Oakland posted a 4-2 victory in Tuesday's series opener, putting an end to its five-game overall slide.
Ramon Laureano belted a two-run homer in the sixth inning to create a 4-0 lead for the Athletics, who haven't lost on the road since May 14 at Seattle. Laureano, who has gone deep in back-to-back contests, enters Wednesday with a 15-game hitting streak during which he has recorded six multi-hit performances. Shohei Ohtani accounted for the Angels' scoring with a two-run blast, giving him seven RBIs in his last six games. Los Angeles has dropped each of its last two contests after winning five of its previous six.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (1-1, 3.05 ERA) vs. Angels RH Felix Pena (3-1, 3.42)
Mengden made three starts this season before following an "opener" last Wednesday, when he allowed one run on four hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings against the Angels. It marked the third consecutive appearance in which the 26-year-old Texan gave up just one run, but he has issued 14 free passes over 20 2/3 frames this year. Mengden, who may enter behind an "opener" again, is 0-2 with a 7.54 ERA in three starts and two relief outings versus Los Angeles following last week's performance.
Pena has not made a traditional start since April 19 against Seattle, entering after an "opener" in six of his last seven appearances. The 29-year-old Dominican has won three straight decisions, including one versus the Mariners on the road on Thursday despite yielding three runs on three hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings. Pena surrendered four runs over 3 2/3 frames in a loss at Oakland on March 30 that dropped him to 0-2 with an 8.79 ERA in four career games (three starts) against the Athletics.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels 3B Tommy La Stella has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games, recording five multi-hit performances in that span.
2. Oakland LHP Brett Anderson, who exited his last turn with an oblique issue, is expected to make his scheduled start in Texas on Friday.
3. Los Angeles on Tuesday released RHP Matt Ramsey, who recorded one strikeout in a scoreless inning of relief against the New York Yankees on April 25 in his first - and only - major-league appearance.