Los Angeles @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 25, 2013 ) LA Angels 11, Chi. White Sox 5

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim may have bottomed out in Houston this week, but they did salvage a finale filled with controversy and will try to build some momentum Friday when they start a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox. Mark Trumbo's game-tying two-run double in the eighth helped Anaheim rally for a 6-5 win Thursday, snapping a four-game slide and giving the Angels just their fifth win in 18 road games.

The White Sox are coming off a 4-4 road trip they ended with a 6-3 victory in New York the day after Matt Harvey nearly spun a perfect game against them. The six runs mark the most Chicago has scored in a winning effort since April 17. It came in Jake Peavy's first start in nearly two weeks, which helps solidify a rotation that just lost Gavin Floyd for the season but may soon welcome back John Danks.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles), Comcast SportsNet Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Tommy Hanson (2-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Dylan Axelrod (0-2, 3.60)

Hanson has been okay in his first season with the Angels, but he remains in a nosedive in terms of his ability to go deep into games. Hanson's innings per start have fallen in each of his five seasons and he has yet to last beyond six innings in 13 straight starts dating to last season. The tall righty gave up three runs and seven hits in five frames of a 5-4 loss to Baltimore his last time out. He let up two homers in the setback and has been taken deep 13 times in his last 11 appearances. Hanson's only outing in U.S. Cellular Field in 2010 was a disaster, as he gave up nine runs on 13 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Axelrod is basically auditioning for a permanent spot in the starting rotation. Danks should return soon, likely meaning that either Axelrod or Hector Santiago is the odd man out. The 27-year-old Axelrod has not hurt his cause with four straight quality starts, during which he has posted a 2.81 ERA. He yielded a pair of runs in a career-high 7 2/3 innings Saturday at Kansas City, but got little support in remaining winless on the season. Axelrod, who has never faced the Angels, owns a 2.04 ERA in three home starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels manager Mike Scioscia protested Thursday's game after Astros reliever Wesley Wright was allowed to be removed in the seventh after warming up but never throwing a pitch.

2. White Sox OF Alex Rios has snapped out of a slump by going 7-for-18 with two homers and a double in his last four games.

3. Anaheim LH Scott Downs was removed in the eighth inning Thursday after suffering a right foot injury trying to get off the mound and field a bunt.

PREDICTION: Angels 6, White Sox 5