White Sox at Angels
Mike Trout is coming off a show-stopping performance and he'll try to inflict further damage when the Los Angeles Angels close a four-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Thursday. Trout went 3-for-4 with two homers, one double, four RBIs and three runs scored in Wednesday's 11-3 victory to put Los Angeles in position to split the four-game set.
Trout's 13th career multi-homer game was part of four homers hit by the Angels with Albert Pujols (3-for-4) delivering his 631st career blast to break a tie with Ken Griffey Jr. and move into sixth place on the all-time list. Shohei Ohtani also went deep and Los Angeles had 14 hits while winning for the second time in its past seven games. The White Sox are 3-3 entering the finale of a seven-game excursion and have won six of their past 10 overall. Chicago All-Star first baseman Jose Abreu is 5-for-12 with a homer in the series as part of a four-game hitting streak that follows a 14-game stretch in which he went 5-for-47.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, MLB Network, WGN (Chicago), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Dylan Covey (4-5, 4.95 ERA) vs. Angels RH Nick Tropeano (3-5, 4.58)
Covey halted a four-game losing streak by taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning and blanking the Seattle Mariners on two hits over 8 1/3 frames in his last turn. The 26-year-old had a 11.70 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in a five-start stretch before falling two outs shy of his first career complete game. Covey received a no-decision in his lone career start against the Angels when he allowed four runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings on Sept. 28, 2017.
Tropeano has dropped both starts since returning from a stint on the disabled list due to shoulder inflammation. The 27-year-old lost to the Houston Astros in his last turn as he gave up two runs (one earned) and two runs in five innings. Tropeano faced the White Sox on August 20, 2015 and took the loss by allowing six runs and eight hits over 4 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pujols has 3,059 career hits, one behind Hall of Famer Craig Biggio for 24th on the all-time list.
2. Chicago SS Tim Anderson was hitless in four at-bats Wednesday after recording three straight two-hit outings.
3. Los Angeles INF David Fletcher had two hits and scored twice Wednesday and is a torrid 11-for-20 during a five-game hitting streak.