Angels at Royals
Since losing their season opener in Oakland, the Los Angeles Angels have been unbeatable on the road this season. They look to extend their winning streak away from home to nine games when they visit the Kansas City Royals on Saturday for the third contest of their four-game series.
Los Angeles, which at 12-3 has matched the best start in franchise history (1979), is 5-0 on its seven-game road trip and has won six straight overall - outscoring its opponents 44-12 during the run. Zack Cozart and Ian Kinsler each recorded three hits while Albert Pujols went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs on Friday as the Angels overcame a two-run deficit to post a 5-4 victory. Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani, who is slated to make his third start on the mound on Sunday, has recorded at least one hit in each of the seven games in which he's been in the starting lineup - going 11-for-29 with 11 RBIs in that stretch. Kansas City is 1-4 on its seven-game homestand, but Mike Moustakas is riding a six-game hitting streak after registering a single - and ending his run of five straight multi-hit performances - in four at-bats on Friday.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Garrett Richards (1-0, 4.20 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jakob Junis (2-0, 0.00)
Richards was limited to six starts in each of the previous two seasons due to injuries but already is halfway to that amount this year. The 29-year-old Californian has pitched well, but he is struggling with his control as he's issued 12 walks over 15 innings. Richards owns a 1-1 record and 3.38 ERA in 10 career games (four starts) against Kansas City.
Junis has yet to allow a run this season, scattering four hits over 14 scoreless innings in his two starts. The 25-year-old native of Illinois did have control issues in his win over Seattle on Monday, however, as he walked two and hit three batters in seven frames. Junis made one start against the Angels as a rookie last season, surrendering five runs and eight hits while also plunking three in 5 1/3 innings of a loss at Los Angeles on June 17.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels activated LHP Andrew Heaney (elbow), who started on Friday and struck out seven over five innings of a no-decision, from the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Felix Pena to Triple-A Salt Lake.
2. Kansas City recalled Kevin McCarthy from Triple-A on Friday and optioned fellow RHP Brandon Maurer to Omaha.
3. Pujols has played nine games at first base this season - three more than his total from last year.