Los Angeles @ Baltimore preview
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Last Meeting ( Jun 29, 2018 ) LA Angels 7, Baltimore 1
Former MVP Mike Trout helped his team snap a demoralizing six-game losing streak in the series opener, and the Los Angeles Angels look to build off that effort when they visit the major league-worst Baltimore Orioles on Saturday afternoon. Trout, who returned to center field Friday after being relegated to designated hitter duties by a sprained finger for more than a week, homered and scored twice in the 7-1 victory for the Angels.
Trout was just 6-for-28 during his nine-game stretch as the DH but went deep Friday for the first time since June 12 to spark Los Angeles (42-41), which was limited to two runs or fewer four times during its slide that ended at the .500 mark. Red-hot lefty Tyler Skaggs will try to give the Angels two straight victories when he takes the mound in the middle contest of the three-game set, while Baltimore counters with veteran right-hander Andrew Cashner. The Orioles, winners of just 23 of 81 games, have dropped six in a row and scored three runs or fewer five times during that stretch. Manny Machado had a pair of singles in the series opener for Baltimore - his team-leading 27th multi-hit game - while Trey Mancini registered three hits and is 7-for-16 while hitting safely in four straight contests.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), MASN (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (6-5, 2.69 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Andrew Cashner (2-8, 4.70)
Skaggs has been outstanding in each of his last four starts, including Monday when he gave up one run over seven innings despite taking the loss at Kansas City. The 26-year-old, who owns 94 strikeouts across 87 innings, won his previous three starts while yielding a total of three runs (one earned) on 16 hits over 20 innings combined. Danny Valencia is 0-for-3 with two walks against Skaggs, who pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his only previous meeting with the Orioles in 2014.
Cashner has posted three quality starts in his last four outings but is winless over his past five trips to the mound. The 31-year-old TCU product, who has served up 14 homers in 15 starts, has allowed nine runs on 25 hits and seven walks over 22 innings in his past four appearances. Andrelton Simmons (4-for-10) and Luis Valbuena (3-for-8, homer, five RBIs) have performed well versus Cashner, who is 1-0 with a 3.94 ERA in five career outings (two starts) against the Angels.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles DH/OF Mark Trumbo went 0-for-4 on Friday to end a 12-game hitting streak in which he had five homers and 12 RBIs.
2. Simmons had four hits in the series opener and is 13-for-29 with three RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.
3. Baltimore recalled RHP Ryan Meisinger and LHP Paul Fry and both made their major-league debuts on Friday.
PREDICTION: Angels 5, Orioles 3