Royals at Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are coming off a series in which a starting pitcher did not allow an earned run and will try to continue the surge when they host the light-hitting Kansas City Royals in the opener of a three-game series on Monday. The Angels are second in the American League in starter's ERA at 3.61.
Tyler Skaggs posted six scoreless innings in Sunday's 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers to follow stellar outings by Jaime Barria and Garrett Richards. "I just think we all want to one-up each other," Skaggs told reporters. "It's that quiet competitiveness. I think we're doing a good job of it right now." That good job by the starters is being aided by another hot streak from superstar Mike Trout, who is tied for the AL lead with 19 home runs and will be going up against a Royals staff that allowed a total of 25 runs while dropping two of three to the Oakland Athletics over the weekend. Kansas City will look for a strong effort on Monday from left-hander Danny Duffy while righty Nick Tropeano tries to keep up with the rest of the Los Angeles staff.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (2-6, 5.71 ERA) vs. Angels RH Nick Tropeano (3-3, 3.80)
Duffy finished May strong with a pair of quality starts, allowing a total of two runs and eight hits over 13 2/3 innings against Texas and Minnesota. The 29-year-old issued four walks in six innings on Tuesday and has handed out 31 free passes in 64 2/3 total innings in 2018. Duffy is 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA in five career games - four starts - against Los Angeles.
Tropeano earned road wins in each of his last two starts while surrendering three runs and 11 hits in 12 2/3 innings against Toronto and Detroit. The 27-year-old yielded all three of those runs on solo homers and served up eight long balls in as many starts this season. Tropeano is 1-0 in two career starts against Kansas City with two runs allowed in 12 total innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels INF Zack Cozart (forearm) returned from a three-game absence on Sunday and went 1-for-3.
2. Royals CF Jon Jay snapped a string of 500 plate appearances without a home run with a solo blast on Sunday.
3. Kansas City RF Jorge Soler homered in three of the last six games.