Angels at Royals
Two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani has been living up to his hype in both facets of his game over the first few weeks of the season. The Japanese right-hander attempts to become the first Los Angeles Angels pitcher to win his first three starts since Jared Weaver in 2006 as the team looks to complete a perfect seven-game road trip when it visits the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.
Los Angeles, which has won seven straight overall, is hoping to sweep this four-game series after doing so in a three-game set at Texas to start its trek. Mike Trout was one of three Angels to homer in Saturday's 5-3 triumph, which extended the club's road winning streak to nine games following a season-opening loss in Oakland. The Angels have been clicking offensively during their overall winning streak, outscoring their opponents 49-15 and crossing the plate at least five times in each victory. Kansas City is 1-5 on its seven-game homestand, but no blame can be put on Mike Moustakas, who is riding a seven-game hitting streak that began with five straight multi-hit performances and features three home runs - including one on Saturday.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Shohei Ohtani (2-0, 2.08 ERA) vs. Royals LH Eric Skoglund (0-1, 9.64)
Ohtani finally gets the chance to display his skills on the mound against a team other than Oakland, which he faced in each of his first two major-league starts. The 23-year-old native of Japan allowed three runs and four hits with 18 strikeouts over 13 innings in winning those outings, issuing just two walks along the way. Ohtani was dazzling versus the Athletics last Sunday, when he gave up one hit and one walk while fanning 12 in seven innings as he carried a no-hitter into his final frame.
Skoglund's season debut was a rough one as he was tagged for five runs and six hits while hitting three batters over 4 2/3 innings of a loss to Seattle on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Floridian has not won since his major-league debut on May 30, when he limited Detroit to two hits and a walk in 6 1/3 scoreless frames. Skoglund, who is 0-3 with a 13.23 ERA in five starts and two relief appearances since the victory, will be facing Los Angeles for the first time in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels' 13-3 start is the best in franchise history.
2. Kansas City C Salvador Perez (knee) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Sunday.
3. Trout's homer on Saturday was his sixth of the season, tying him with Washington's Bryce Harper for the major-league lead.