Royals at Angels
The Los Angeles Angels have opened the month by winning four of their first five games and look to continue the upward trend on Wednesday, when they aim for a sweep of their three-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals. Two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani is set to make his fifth start at home, where he is 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA.
Angels starter Andrew Heaney pitched a one-hitter in Tuesday’s 1-0 win, but the team’s celebration was tempered by an injury to shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who slipped on the dugout steps before the game and played two innings before leaving with a sprained right ankle. Simmons was on crutches after the contest but hopes to avoid the disabled list, while first baseman/designated hitter Albert Pujols is battling knee soreness and will be out of the lineup until at least Friday. Mike Trout served as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Royals, who have lost four of their last five games since taking two of three against Minnesota. Center fielder Jon Jay was 0-for-3 on Tuesday but had three singles in Monday’s series opener and has hit safely in 30 of his last 34 games.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Kansas City, FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals RH Ian Kennedy (1-6, 6.08 ERA) vs. Angels RH Shohei Ohtani (4-1, 3.18)
Kennedy is looking to bounce back from a dismal outing against Oakland last Friday, when he allowed eight runs on seven hits over three innings in a 16-0 loss. The 33-year-old native Californian is winless over his last 10 starts, going 0-6 with a 7.40 ERA since his last win on April 7 at Cleveland. Ian Kinsler is 8-for-23 with two home runs against Kennedy, who owns a 3.86 ERA in eight career games (seven starts) against the Angels, including a 0.90 mark in his last three starts.
Ohtani received a no-decision last Wednesday after allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts over five innings against Detroit. The 23-year-old made a strong impression on the Tigers before leaving the game following a rain delay. “He's got a powerful arm and good stuff,” Detroit outfielder Nicholas Castellanos told reporters. "He was already throwing hard, but he hit 101 to Jeimar Candelario in a big spot in the fifth. Not a lot of guys can do that.”
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels starting pitchers have recorded an American League-best 2.61 ERA since May 1.
2. Kansas City SS Alcides Escobar went 0-for-3 on Tuesday, snapping a six-game hitting streak.
3. The Angels optioned INF Kaleb Cowart to Triple-A Salt Lake and recalled RHP Eduardo Paredes.