A pair of American League West teams coming off series victories will meet on Monday in the first of a three-game set when the Los Angeles Angels host the visiting Athletics in Anaheim, Calif.
Los Angeles fell 3-2 in its series finale against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, but the club took two of three and has won four of its last six entering Monday. The Angels are tied with the Texas Rangers for third in the AL West at 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Houston Astros.
They struck out 18 times in the setback on Sunday, 14 coming against starter George Kirby.
“What I noticed out there tonight is that (Kirby) can put you away,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He was able to put us away, but we stayed in the ballgame with him.”
Before the loss on Sunday, the Angels had averaged 6.6 runs across their previous five games.
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe is one member of the lineup that Los Angeles wants to get going. The 25-year-old is second on the team in both home runs (14) and RBIs (31) — trailing only Taylor Ward’s 18 homers and 45 RBIs. O’Hoppe, however, is just 3-for-29 (.103) over the last seven games and is batting .241 on the season.
“There’s so much stuff this year that I’m learning and trying to navigate through,” O’Hoppe said. “It’s just another little block I’ve got to work through. … I haven’t felt good behind the plate all year. I haven’t felt convicted in what I’m doing. I haven’t felt strong back there.”
Looking to help the Angels get back to their winning ways, left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (1-5, 3.23 ERA) is scheduled to make the 14th start of his first season in Los Angeles. The 33-year-old allowed three earned runs in five innings in a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. The Angels won 4-3 in 10 innings.
Kikuchi is 2-3 with a 3.45 ERA in 57 1/3 innings over 11 career starts against the Athletics.
After picking up a 5-1 win over the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, the Athletics enter play winners in three of four and are on the heels of their first series win since taking two of three against the Miami Marlins on May 2-4.
“We always talk about taking things one game at a time,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “This was a good sign and the club’s playing better. We’re going in the right direction.”
The story of the season for the club has been rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson. Though he appeared in 28 games a season ago, the 23-year-old is eligible for the American League Rookie of the Year award and is a heavy favorite for the accolade.
Wilson’s .372 batting average and 93 hits are second most in the majors, behind only New York Yankees All-Star slugger Aaron Judge, while entering Monday riding a nine-game hitting streak.
“It feels amazing to be able to come out here and get this win today,” Wilson said on Sunday. “And to be able to compete with Judge is pretty cool. It’s been a special run with this team. We’re going to take these two wins into Anaheim.”
Left-hander Jeffrey Springs (5-4, 4.66) is expected to get the start for the A’s. The 32-year-old is coming off a no-decision on Wednesday when he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of a 6-1 loss to the host Minnesota Twins.
Springs’ last victory came on May 13, an 11-1 win over the host Los Angeles Dodgers. He yielded one run on six hits and two walks while fanning four in seven innings.
The 32-year-old has a career mark of 2-2 against the Angels with one save, a 4.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 22 innings over 11 appearances (three starts).
–Field Level Media
