Baltimore @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 20, 2016 ) Baltimore 9, LA Angels 4

The Baltimore Orioles lead the major leagues with 17 home victories but know they’ll need to win on the road to maintain their lead atop the American League East. After opening their nine-game road trip with a victory, the Orioles continue their three-game series against the host Los Angeles Angels on Saturday aiming to improve on their 8-7 record away from Camden Yards.

If there was any question whether Baltimore’s power would travel, the Orioles answered in a big way with four home runs in Friday’s 9-4 victory, including back-to-back solo shots by Joey Rickard and Manny Machado along with a two-run blast by Chris Davis. Anaheim native Mark Trumbo added his league-leading 13th homer for the Orioles, who are 20-7 when hitting at least one home run. The win temporarily slowed the surging Angels, who lost for the second time in their last eight games and needed four relievers to pitch 6 1/3 innings after starter Hector Santiago was ejected in the third. The Angels have received a welcome boost over the past few weeks from catcher Carlos Perez and second baseman Johnny Giavotella, who has 19 hits this month after batting .196 in April.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (0-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. Angels RH Matt Shoemaker (2-5, 8.49)

Gausman had his string of three consecutive quality starts end on Sunday as the former LSU star allowed four runs and a career-high 10 hits over five frames in a 6-5 loss to Detroit. The 25-year-old has made five starts since opening the season on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis and owns a 1-1 record and 6.39 ERA in two career outings against the Angels. Yunel Escobar is 6-for-10 against Gausman, who is 3-12 with a 5.46 ERA in 23 career road starts.

Shoemaker snapped a four-game skid by holding the Dodgers to three runs over five innings in Monday’s 7-6 victory. The 29-year-old needed the solid outing after allowing a total of 18 runs in 9 1/3 frames over his previous three starts. Adam Jones has homered twice in six at-bats against Shoemaker, who has pitched into the sixth inning only twice in seven starts this season and has gone 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA in two career turns against Baltimore.

WALK-OFFS

1. Baltimore relievers lead the American League with a 2.49 ERA.

2. The Angels optioned 3B Jefry Marte to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room on the roster for RHP Tim Lincecum, who will begin a minor-league assignment next week.

3. Orioles DH Pedro Alvarez has hit safely in six of his last 11 games with five RBI over that stretch.

PREDICTION: Orioles 7, Angels 3