Angels at Blue Jays
Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels will try to finish off a season series sweep when they meet the host Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of a four-game set Thursday night. The two-time Most Valuable Player hit a pair of home runs - including a grand slam - and drove in seven runs in Wednesday's 11-6 win for the Angels.
Justin Upton also went deep to help Los Angeles improve to 6-0 on the season against the Blue Jays, as well as 18-6 in its last 24 games in Toronto. The Angels have won seven of their last nine overall and are a game over .500 for the first time since opening 7-6. They will try to move two games over the even mark for the first time when they give the ball to rookie Jose Suarez in the series finale. Losers of seven in a row at home, their longest such slide since an eight-gamer in 2004, the Blue Jays turn to struggling veteran Clayton Richard.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Jose Suarez (2-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Clayton Richard (0-3, 7.52)
Suarez picked up the win at Tampa Bay on Saturday after giving up three runs over 5 2/3 innings. The 21-year-old has yielded 14 hits - four for extra bases -through his first 16 innings in the majors. He will be making his first career start against Toronto.
Richard lasted a season-high five innings while giving up five runs in a loss at Houston on Saturday. The University of Michigan product is winless in four career starts at Rogers Centre while giving up 12 runs with 10 walks in 18 1/3 innings. Upton is 12-for-27 with five extra-base hits against the 35-year-old Richard.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto is batting an MLB-worst .205 at home.
2. Angels RF Kole Calhoun is 6-for-15 with two homers, two walks and four runs scored during a four-game hitting streak.
3. Los Angeles traded LF Cesar Puello to the Miami Marlins in exchange for cash considerations.