Orioles at Angels
After making a statement with a series sweep of the National League’s best team, the Los Angeles Angels look to avoid a letdown Thursday when they begin a four-game series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles. Mike Trout has 11 home runs in his last 14 games to lead the Angels, who improved to 9-3 since the All-Star break with back-to-back wins over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Kole Calhoun went 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and two RBIs in Wednesday’s 3-2 victory as the Angels swept the Freeway Series for the first time in franchise history and moved five games above .500 for the first time all season. Calhoun has homered in consecutive games for the Angels, who have won four in a row and sit four games back of the second American League wild card spot. Baltimore dropped two of three against Arizona and needs more production from Chris Davis and Jonathan Villar, who were a combined 0-for-24 with 15 strikeouts in the series. One bright spot has been the play of outfielder Anthony Santander, who went deep in Wednesday’s 5-2 loss and is 13-for-29 with four homers and nine RBIs over his last seven games.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jimmy Yacabonis (1-2, 6.95 ERA) vs. Angels LH Jose Suarez (2-1, 5.51)
Yacabonis is set to serve as the opener in front of Tom Eshelman, who allowed nine runs (five earned) on six hits over 3 2/3 innings in a 17-6 loss to Boston on Saturday. The 27-year-old Yacabonis followed Eshelman in Saturday’s contest and gave up seven runs on eight hits while recording just one out. The New Jersey native owns a 10.43 ERA in 11 home games (one start) this season compared to a 4.26 mark in 12 games (one start) away from Camden Yards.
Suarez was sent to Triple-A Salt Lake after allowing three runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision versus Seattle on July 14. The 21-year-old rookie owns a 37-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his first seven career starts at the major league level. Suarez pitched last Friday for the Bees and yielded three runs on three hits over four innings while throwing 69 pitches in a 5-2 loss to Las Vegas.
WALK-OFFS
1. Baltimore INF Hanser Alberto is hitting .330 with four home runs and 19 RBIs since May 20.
2. Angels manager Brad Ausmus announced that RHP Griffin Canning will start Friday’s contest.
3. The Orioles optioned 3B Rio Ruiz to Triple-A Norfolk.