Angels at Blue Jays
Kendrys Morales hadn't done much to distinguish himself this season before a productive start to his week saw him excel in an impromptu pitching performance and notch back-to-back multi-hit efforts. Morales aims to continue his recent surge against his former team as the Blue Jays (23-25) bid for their first series victory in over a month when they host the Los Angeles Angels (26-22) on Wednesday.
Morales did his best to silence the masses that are clamoring for top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to cut into his at-bats by belting a two-run homer to highlight a five-run first inning in Tuesday's 5-3 triumph. The 34-year-old Cuban has answered a career-worst 0-for-29 stretch earlier this month by collecting five hits in his last three games heading into Wednesday's tilt versus left-hander Tyler Skaggs, against whom he is 2-for-6 in his career. While Toronto had lost four in a row and eight of 10 prior to the opener of the three-game series, Los Angeles opened a 10-game road trip with its eighth loss in 11 outings while mustering just 29 runs in that stretch. Mike Trout has scored five of those runs in the last four games heading into a matchup versus right-hander Aaron Sanchez, against whom he is 1-for-4 in a small sample size.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (3-3, 2.88 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (2-4, 4.47)
Skaggs turned in his fifth straight strong outing on Thursday but saw his winless skid extend to four games after allowing just one run in six innings of a 7-1 setback versus Tampa Bay. The 26-year-old has permitted just seven runs on 25 hits with 32 strikeouts in his last five outings (29 2/3 innings). Skaggs picked up the win against Toronto last season after permitting two earned runs in seven-plus innings, improving to 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four career starts.
Sanchez permitted four runs for the third time in four outings on Thursday, as he allowed four walks to drive up his pitch count to lead to an exit after four innings in a 10-5 setback versus Oakland. The 25-year-old has struggled with his control, issuing multiple walks in each of his nine trips to the mound for a total of 29 in 50 1/3 innings this season. Justin Upton is 5-for-7 with a pair of doubles against Sanchez, who owns an 0-1 mark in two career meetings with the Angels despite limiting the club to a .200 batting average.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles SS Andrelton Simmons has reached base safely in 27 of his last 28 games.
2. Toronto owns a 14-6 mark this season when scoring the game's first run.
3. Angels C Martin Maldonado has two extra-base hits in his last two games to improve to 17-for-44 in May after going 7-for-56 last month.