White Sox at Angels
Mike Trout was kept in the ballpark on Saturday for the first time in the series but still managed to do some damage for the Los Angeles Angels. The club hopes for more of the same from the superstar on Sunday as it looks to conclude its seven-game homestand with a winning record when it hosts the Chicago White Sox for the finale of their four-game set.
Trout, who belted a solo homer in each of the first two games of the series to match his career high of 41 blasts, ignited a four-run seventh inning with a two-run single and scored the decisive run on a bases-loaded walk to Brian Goodwin later in the frame as the Angels posted a 6-5 victory. The 28-year-old Trout is 6-for-11 with two blasts and four RBIs in the series after going 0-for-11 over his previous four contests. Eloy Jimenez swatted a two-run homer and James McCann drove in a pair of runs on Saturday for Chicago, which had won three of its previous four games. McCann has gone 9-for-21 during his five-game hitting streak and collected 11 RBIs over his last four contests.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Cease (2-5, 5.54 ERA) vs. Angels RH Griffin Canning (4-6, 4.86)
Cease appeared to be turning a corner when he allowed just two runs over five innings in a victory at Detroit on Aug. 6 but followed with a rough outing versus Houston on Tuesday. The 23-year-old rookie from Georgia yielded four runs - two earned - on five hits and a career-high five walks over six frames en route to his fifth loss in six turns. Cease, who has recorded both of his major-league victories against the Tigers, will be facing the Angels for the first time.
Canning returned from an elbow injury Tuesday against Pittsburgh and came away with a no-decision after permitting three runs on six hits and three walks in four innings. The 23-year-old rookie Californian has recorded three of his four major-league victories at home, where he has posted a 4.53 ERA over 10 appearances (nine starts) as opposed to a 5.30 mark in seven road outings. Canning never has faced the White Sox.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels INF David Fletcher has recorded three straight two-hit performances and is 11-for-20 during his five-game hitting streak.
2. Jimenez has hit safely in seven of his last eight contests, registering three homers and six RBIs in that span.
3. Los Angeles' Felix Pena underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee while fellow RHP Keynan Middleton, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday by throwing a scoreless inning.