Angels at Royals
The Los Angeles Angels attempt to extend a pair of winning streaks when they visit the Kansas City Royals on Thursday for the opener of their four-game series. Los Angeles has won four straight overall and six in a row on the road after completing a three-game sweep in Texas with Wednesday's 7-2 victory.
Kole Calhoun collected three hits and two RBIs in the triumph for the Angels, who have outscored their opponents 32-7 during their overall run. Kansas City is hoping to avoid its second three-game losing streak of the young season as it continues its seven-game homestand. The Royals, who lost their first three contests of 2018, dropped the last two of their three-game set versus Seattle after falling 4-2 on Wednesday. Despite the team's fortunes, Mike Moustakas has been surging offensively for the Royals as he has recorded four consecutive multi-hit performances - going 9-for-17 with two home runs and six RBIs during the streak.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Nick Tropeano (2016: 3-2, 3.56 ERA) vs. Royals RH Ian Kennedy (1-0, 0.75)
Tropeano will be summoned from Triple-A Salt Lake to make his first major-league appearance since July 18, 2016. The 27-year-old New Yorker was unable to win a spot in the rotation this spring despite allowing only three runs and recording 11 strikeouts over 8 2/3 innings while going 2-0 in two starts and one relief appearance. Tropeano made his only career start against Kansas City on April 27, 2016, when he settled for a no-decision after giving up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 frames.
Kennedy is off to a fantastic start after a disappointing 2017 season in which he registered only five victories. The 33-year-old Californian worked six innings in each of his first two turns, allowing totals of one run and eight hits with 13 strikeouts and only two walks. Kennedy has not fared well against the Angels in his career, going 1-4 with a 4.25 ERA and one of his two major-league complete games in six starts and one relief appearance.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels DH Shohei Ohtani has recorded at least one hit in each of the five games in which he's been in the starting lineup, going 8-for-21 with eight RBIs in those contests.
2. Kansas City 2B Whit Merrifield has hit safely in eight of his 10 games, but recorded just one RBI.
3. Los Angeles SS Andrelton Simmons was hitless on Wednesday for just the second time in 13 games this year.