Pirates at Angels
The Pittsburgh Pirates halted their eight-game slide in the series opener and look for another win over the host Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. Pittsburgh belted four homers in the initial contest of three-game set as it won for just the fifth time in 29 contests.
Josh Bell ended his 26-game home-run drought by slugging two on Sunday and launched his 30th of the year in Monday's 10-2 win while notching two RBIs to raise his season count to 95. Jacob Stallings homered and drove in three runs while Kevin Newman and Bryan Reynolds also went deep for the Pirates, who have scored 19 runs in their last two games. Los Angeles has dropped 13 of its last 17 contests after being pounded in the opener of its seven-game homestand. Superstar Mike Trout has belted five homers in his last 11 games but has gone 0-for-6 over his last two.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Trevor Williams (4-5, 5.06 ERA) vs. Angels RH Griffin Canning (4-6, 4.76)
Williams was tagged for six runs and eight hits over five innings while losing to Milwaukee in his last start. The 27-year-old is just 1-3 over his last five turns, serving up eight homers while allowing 20 earned runs over 28 1/3 frames during that stretch. Williams, who never has faced the Angels, is 2-3 with a 4.17 ERA in nine road starts this season.
Canning (elbow) will be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game to make his 16th start of the season. The 23-year-old rookie gave up four hits in six scoreless innings of a victory over Detroit on July 30 before reporting inflammation and going on the IL. Canning is 3-2 with a 4.17 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels 1B Albert Pujols went hitless in four at-bats in the series opener and is just 2-for-19 in his last six games.
2. Pittsburgh CF Starling Marte went 3-for-5 in the opener after striking out four times in eight hitless at-bats over his last two contests.
3. Los Angeles placed Justin Anderson (trapezius) on the 10-day injured list and recalled fellow RHP Jose Rodriguez, who served up three solo homers in four innings on Monday, from Triple-A Salt Lake.