Detroit @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( May 31, 2018 ) LA Angels 2, Detroit 6

The Los Angeles Angels are missing their best player and answering questions about the future of their manager as they slide out of the postseason race in the American League. The Angels hope to have Mike Trout back in the lineup when they return home to host the Detroit Tigers on Monday for the opener of their three-game series.

Los Angeles has dropped six of its last seven games and fallen to 55-58 amid reports that manager Mike Scioscia will step down after the season - a report he called "poppycock." The Angels also have been without Trout, who will celebrate his 27th birthday on Tuesday, for the last four games after he injured his right wrist during a stolen-base attempt, but X-rays and an MRI revealed only inflammation and he is considered day-to-day. The Tigers did not get off to a great start on their six-game road trip, managing just one run in three games while being swept by Oakland over the weekend. Detroit will try to produce some run support on Monday for starting pitcher Matthew Boyd while the Angels attempt to snap their slide behind Nick Tropeano.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (6-9, 4.22 ERA) vs. Angels RH Nick Tropeano (4-6, 4.94)

Boyd is coming off his best start of the season as he scattered four hits and struck out seven in eight scoreless innings of a win over Cincinnati on Tuesday. The Oregon State product has surrendered fewer than three runs in each of his last three turns and notched the victory in the last two after a stretch of seven straight starts without a triumph. Boyd yielded two hits in five scoreless frames to record a win over the Angels at home on May 28.

Tropeano has gone 1-3 with a 6.92 ERA in his last five starts, with a six-week stint on the disabled list sandwiched in between the outings. The New York native served up five solo home runs against the Chicago White Sox on July 26 and was charged with four runs on seven hits - one homer - at Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Tropeano recorded a win at Detroit on May 29, when he allowed two runs - on solo homers - and seven hits over 5 1/3 frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers RF Nick Castellanos has gone 5-for-44 with 16 strikeouts over his last 11 games.

2. Angels 1B Albert Pujols needs four hits to become the ninth player in history with at least 1,000 in each league.

3. Detroit last won a road series against Los Angeles in 2009.

PREDICTION: Tigers 6, Angels 2