Rays at Angels
C.J. Cron served notice to his former employers in the series opener and looks to inflict more damage when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Los Angeles Angels on Friday in the second contest of a four-game set. Cron went 2-for-5 and homered for the game's first run on Thursday as the Rays rolled to a 7-1 win for their fourth straight triumph.
Cron, who has homered in three straight games, was dealt to the Rays in the offseason after four seasons with the Angels and his homer was his 11th of the campaign, just five off his career high. "They gave me the opportunity to play in the big leagues," Cron told reporters prior to Thursday's game. "This is a special place, and I played four years here. I don't regret any of it." Cron has seven two-hit outings during a 10-game hitting streak and he is 17-for-43 with four homers during the stretch. The Angels have scored just four runs during a three-game skid with center fielder Mike Trout mired in a career-worst 0-for-19 funk and the club facing the possibility of being without left fielder Justin Upton (left hand) on Friday after he was hit by a pitch in the opener.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Sun (Tampa Bay), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rays LH Blake Snell (4-3, 3.12 ERA) vs. Angels RH Nick Tropeano (1-2, 3.64)
Snell has dropped back-to-back starts after going 4-0 over his previous five decisions. The 25-year-old served up three homers in the second inning in his last turn and gave up five runs and six hits over 3 1/3 innings as the Rays were routed 17-1 by the Baltimore Orioles. Snell has made one career start against the Angels and suffered the loss as he gave up two runs and four hits over six innings on July 7, 2016.
Tropeano is 0-2 over his last four starts after beating the Kansas City Royals in his season debut on April 12. The 27-year-old gave up three runs and five hits in six innings against the Minnesota Twins in a no-decision in his last outing. Tropeano is 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA in two career starts against the Rays and has experienced mixed results against Brad Miller (3-for-9 with two homers and five strikeouts).
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rays have won eight of their last nine games at Angel Stadium.
2. Los Angeles RHP Keynan Middleton (elbow) received recommendations that he needs Tommy John surgery on his ulnar collateral ligament, the team announced.
3. Tampa Bay SS Adeiny Hechavarria (hamstring) departed Thursday's game and he will be re-evaluated on Friday.