GAME:
Los Angeles Angels (20-27) at Kansas City Royals (21-23)
DATE/TIME:
Friday, May 24 - 8:10 PM EST
WHERE:
Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
LINE:
-122, 113
TOTAL:
8.5
The Los Angeles Angels are rolling after a miserable start, thanks in large part to the power hitting the team expected to have at the beginning of the season. The Angels, who meet the Kansas City Royals for the second of four road games on Friday, won their season-high fifth consecutive game thanks to four homers during a 6-4 victory in Thursday's series opener. Los Angeles is hitting .323 with nine home runs and has outscored opponents 42-16 during its winning streak.
Since taking two of three from the Angels last week, the Royals have dropped six of their last seven to fall five games behind the red-hot Cleveland Indians in the American League Central. The Royals have lost 13 of their past 17, scoring three or fewer runs in 10 of the losses. While Kansas City has struggled, Salvador Perez has done his part to keep the Royals competitive, hitting .393 and registering eight multiple-hit games in May.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports West (Los Angeles), Fox Sports Kansas City
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Jason Vargas (3-3, 3.55 ERA) vs. Royals RH Luis Mendoza (1-2, 5.50)
After a poor outing against Houston on May 9, Vargas is coming off back-to-back quality starts. In Sunday’s 6-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox, he gave up four hits over seven scoreless frames, allowing only two runners to reach scoring position. The 30-year-old left-hander has won each of his last four outings against the Royals, carrying a 2.08 ERA in those contests. In six all-time starts against them, Vargas is 5-1 with a 3.38 ERA.
Mendoza has been solid over his last three outings – all on the road. The right-hander was in line for his second consecutive win after yielding three runs (two earned) over six innings in Sunday’s 4-3 loss to Oakland, but left without a decision after the bullpen let it slip away. Mendoza has been abysmal in his only two starts at home (0-1, 12.10 ERA) and has struggled against the Angels in six appearances (three starts), going 1-1 with an 8.04 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles is 16-9 when CF Mike Trout scores a run and 4-18 when he does not.
2. Kansas City is 7-12 in one-run games, tied with the Chicago Cubs for the most such losses in the majors.
3. The Angels have hit a major league-high 31 home runs in May.
PREDICTION: Angels 5, Royals 3