Angels at Athletics
Mike Trout had a rough time in the season opener, but he made up for it in his first at-bat in his next contest and hopes to follow suit Saturday as the Los Angeles Angels continue their four-game series against the host Oakland Athletics. Trout went 0-for-6 in Thursday's 6-5 loss but homered in the first inning the following night as the Angels posted a 2-1 victory.
The 26-year-old two-time American League MVP also scored a much-needed insurance run in the ninth on Friday while Justin Upton and Andrelton Simmons each recorded two of Los Angeles' six hits. Oakland managed seven but was unable to get on the scoreboard until the ninth inning, when Jonathan Lucroy delivered an RBI single with two outs. Marcus Semien appears to be enjoying hitting in the leadoff spot as he is 4-for-9 with an RBI and two runs scored over the Athletics' first two games. Jed Lowrie also has gotten off to a solid start at the plate, going 3-for-9, while Khris Davis and Matt Olson have each gone deep.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Matt Shoemaker (2017: 6-3, 4.52 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (2017: 3-2, 3.14)
Shoemaker is coming off a season in which he was limited to 14 starts due to a forearm strain. The 31-year-old native of Michigan has failed to reach double digits in wins since 2014, when he went 16-4 with a 3.04 ERA in 27 appearances (20 starts) as a rookie. Shoemaker has fared well against Oakland during his career, going 5-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 11 starts and one relief outing.
Mengden also battled ailments last year, making only seven starts for Oakland and another 11 in the minor leagues. The 25-year-old Texan pitched well in his limited time with the Athletics, however, allowing just 15 earned runs and issuing only nine walks over 43 innings while recording his first major-league complete game - a two-hit shutout at Philadelphia on Sept. 15. Mengden was battered in his only career start against the Angels, surrendering seven runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 frames of a road loss on Sept. 27, 2016.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels 2B Ian Kinsler made his debut for the team on Friday, going 1-for-4 after missing the season opener with groin tightness.
2. Davis, who hit five homers against Los Angeles last season, has gone 4-for-8 with two solo homers against Shoemaker in his career.
3. Simmons is 3-for-7 with an RBI over his first two contests.