Los Angeles @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2012 ) LA Angels 2, Kansas City 3

The Los Angeles Angels had the perfect opportunity to gain some ground in the American League wild card race. The Kansas City Royals had nothing to do but spoil the party. The Royals exploded for three runs in the bottom of the ninth on Saturday to stun the Angels and even the series at a game apiece. The loss kept the Angels 2 1/2 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild card spot in the American League.

Los Angeles gets to return home after Sunday’s rubber match but the games don’t get much easier, with first-place teams Texas and Chicago opening the homestand. The Angels were cruising along with a 2-0 lead in the ninth on Saturday when they decided to remove Zack Greinke after 109 pitches. Ernesto Frieri came in and served up back-to-back homers to Billy Butler and Salvador Perez en route to a 3-2 loss. Kansas City has become a dangerous offensive team with Butler, Perez, Alex Gordon and Mike Moustakas providing a strong core. Los Angeles has leaned on Kendrys Morales for a pair of home runs in the series.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, FSW (Los Angeles), FSKC (Kansas City)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Dan Haren (10-11, 4.45 ERA) vs. Royals LH Will Smith (5-7, 4.94)

Haren missed a chance to post three straight wins when he was reached for three runs on four hits in 6 1/3 innings by Oakland on Monday. The veteran right-hander had allowed a total of one earned run in winning his previous two outings. Haren has struggled on and off this season and was knocked around for five runs on a season-high 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings by Kansas City on April 7. He surrendered home runs to Moustakas and Eric Hosmer in that outing.

Smith is coming off his best start since being called up to the majors in May. The 23-year-old rookie worked seven scoreless innings while allowing as many hits and striking out a career-high seven to beat the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. Smith’s best start up until that point had come at Los Angeles on July 24. He yielded one run on just two hits over seven innings to grab the win in that contest.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Angels and Royals are tied at four wins apiece in the season series.

2. Butler has hit safely in eight straight games and has driven in seven runs in the last four.

3. Los Angeles 1B Albert Pujols is 0-for-10 over the last three games.