Athletics at Angels
After winning five of the final seven contests of their 10-game homestand, the Oakland Athletics have remained hot to start their six-game road trip. Oakland seeks its fifth consecutive road win overall when it begins a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday.
The Athletics have won 10 of 14 overall following a sweep of a two-game interleague series versus St. Louis as they continue their climb in the American League West - and wild-card - standings. The club posted a 2-0 victory over the Cardinals on Wednesday as Daniel Mengden, who was recalled from the minors earlier in the day, combined with three relievers on a five-hitter while Beau Taylor and Matt Chapman belted solo homers. The Angels also swept a two-game interleague series as they posted their second consecutive 5-1 triumph over Cincinnati on Wednesday for their third straight victory overall. Shohei Ohtani went 3-for-3 just hours after throwing his first bullpen session since undergoing Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1 while Justin Bour homered twice and drove in four runs for Los Angeles, giving him four blasts, nine RBIs and a .304 batting average in seven games since being recalled from the minors.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Tanner Anderson (0-2, 4.20 ERA) vs. Angels RH Griffin Canning (2-4, 3.88)
Anderson remains in search of his first victory in the American League as he makes his fourth start of the season for Oakland. The 26-year-old Floridian suffered both of his losses this year against Tampa Bay, including a home setback on Friday in which he gave up three runs and seven hits over four innings. Anderson, who never has faced the Angels, recorded his only major-league win in a relief outing against Milwaukee on July 15 while with Pittsburgh.
After enjoying a strong month of May in which he posted a 2.57 ERA with 28 strikeouts over 28 innings in five starts, Canning has been unable to duplicate that success in June. The 23-year-old rookie from California has registered a 5.01 ERA this month and an 0-3 record that includes a home loss to the Athletics on June 4 in which he yielded four runs and seven hits over six innings. That defeat came six days after Canning allowed one run and three hits over six frames in a no-decision at Oakland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chapman's homer on Wednesday was his 19th of the season, leaving him five shy of matching the career high he set last year.
2. Oakland RHP J.B. Wendelken was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday to make room on the roster for Mengden after recording his first major-league victory the previous night.
3. Los Angeles activated Trevor Cahill (elbow) from the 10-day injured list and recalled fellow RHP Jaime Barria from Triple-A Salt Lake, with the duo combining to allow one run and five hits over seven innings on Wednesday, while optioning RHP Jake Jewell to the Bees and designating SS Wilfredo Tovar for assignment.