Angels at Orioles
The Los Angeles Angels have fallen to .500 for the first time since splitting their first two contests of the season and will try to snap out of their funk against the woeful Baltimore Orioles when the teams begin their three-game series at Camden Yards on Friday. The Angels suffered their sixth straight loss with Thursday's 4-2 setback at Boston, scoring fewer than three runs for the fifth time in their last seven games.
Perennial MVP candidate Mike Trout, who struck out with a runner on base to end the game, is just 5-for-27 with 11 strikeouts in his last eight games for Los Angeles. Baltimore's spiral continued with a 4-2 loss to Seattle in 10 innings on Thursday, its fifth consecutive defeat overall and 15th in the last 16 games at home. Chris Davis has shown some signs of life amid a dismal campaign at the plate, going 3-for-8 with two homers and four RBIs in his last two contests. He and his Orioles teammates will be getting their first look at Felix Pena, who opposes David Hess in the series opener.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Felix Pena (0-0, 5.40 ERA) vs. Orioles RH David Hess (2-4, 5.44)
Pena will be making his third straight start since being recalled from the minors earlier this month. He has given up four runs and 10 hits with 12 strikeouts in nine innings over his first two starts. The 28-year-old, who never has faced the Orioles, has made all four of his appearances with the Angels this season at home.
Hess posted a 3.07 ERA over his first five starts but has been knocked around in the last three, allowing 15 runs in 12 innings. He suffered his third straight loss on Sunday, when he surrendered five runs over four frames at Atlanta. The native of Tennessee has served up four home runs in his first 15 1/3 innings at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels are 10-19 on the road since opening 11-1.
2. Los Angeles SS Andrelton Simmons has gone 9-for-24 with a home run during his six-game hitting streak.
3. Orioles CF Adam Jones and 3B Tim Beckham Jr. both were given the day off Thursday but are expected back in the lineup for the series opener.