Angels at Blue Jays
The Los Angeles Angels failed to overcome a fast start by Toronto to fall short in the opener of their 10-game road trip, but a late surge against the Blue Jays the following night evened their three-game series at one victory apiece. The visiting Angels (27-22) aim to ride that momentum into Thursday afternoon's rubber match against the Blue Jays (23-26), who have lost eight of their last 10.
Rookie sensation Shohei Ohtani and Andrelton Simmons recorded back-to-back two-run singles in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 5-4 victory for Los Angeles, which scored more than three runs for just the second time in 11 games. Simmons, who has three RBIs in this series after driving in just two in his previous nine contests, is 5-for-10 in his career versus Thursday starter Marco Estrada. Toronto's Yangervis Solarte homered in his second straight outing to highlight his fourth straight two-hit performance on Wednesday. The 30-year-old Venezuelan is 9-for-22 with six RBIs during his five-game hitting streak for the Blue Jays.
TV: 12:37 p.m. ET, Facebook Watch
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Nick Tropeano (1-3, 4.45 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (2-5, 5.15)
Tropeano fell to 0-3 in his last five starts on Friday after surrendering two homers and four runs total in 2 2/3 innings of an 8-3 setback versus Tampa Bay. The 27-year-old didn't do himself any favors by driving up his pitch count courtesy of walking three batters for the third time in four outings. Tropeano will be making his first career appearance against Toronto, although he has fared well versus former Angel Kendrys Morales (0-for-5, two strikeouts) and Curtis Granderson (0-for-3).
Like Tropeano, Estrada also is 0-3 in his last five starts after taking the loss versus Oakland on Friday despite surrendering three runs in 6 2/3 innings. The 34-year-old did not walk a batter for the first time this season while his six strikeouts were his most since fanning seven in an 8-5 triumph at Texas on April 6. Estrada has split a pair of decisions against the Angels despite posting a 6.62 ERA while allowing the club to bat .333 against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles RF Kole Calhoun is 0-for-6 in the series and 2-for-27 in his last 10 games, but he made his mark in the field by throwing out Granderson at the plate in the ninth inning on Wednesday.
2. Speaking of Granderson, he is just 1-for-13 with four strikeouts in his last four games.
3. Angels C Martin Maldonado had an RBI single to extend his modest hitting streak to three games while improving to 18-for-49 in May after going 7-for-56 last month.
PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Angels 2