The Kansas City Royals entered Saturday as one of four teams that have yet to reach 10 wins this season.
The Royals, however, have shown signs of turning it around after winning of two of three games following an eight-game losing streak.
Kansas City will aim to continue its recent upturn on Saturday night when it hosts the Los Angeles Angels in the second contest of a three-game series.
After a 6-3 win on Friday night, the Royals hope to get one of their top players, Maikel Garcia, back from right elbow soreness. Garcia didn’t play in the series opener, although he was available off the bench to hit, run or play defense.
Garcia told the Kansas City Star that he hopes to be back in the lineup on Saturday.
The Royals will turn to left-hander Cole Ragans (0-4, 6.00 ERA) against the Angels. Ragans allowed three homers and seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings in his most recent start, a 7-0 loss to the Yankees in New York on Sunday.
First innings have been a problem for Ragans, who has allowed seven of the 14 earned runs he’s surrendered this season in the opening frame. He also has walked 18 batters in five starts.
The Royals put together a five-run fourth inning on Friday that was the turning point in the series opener.
“Just try to get on, get the guy over, get the guy in,” Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. told the Star. “Whatever we’re doing, try to take unselfish at-bats and just go up there and grind. Just go up there and look for what you are hunting and go out there and just compete.”
The Angels have lost five of their last six games and have scored nine runs total in those five defeats. They hope to turn their fortunes around on Saturday when they send right-hander Walbert Urena (0-2, 2.35) to the mound.
Urena, 22, will make his second start in what will be four appearances this season after moving from the bullpen to the rotation. He pitched well in his first career start on Sunday against the San Diego Padres, when he allowed two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts and two walks over six innings in a 2-1 defeat.
Mike Trout’s eight home runs lead the Angels this season. The veteran set a franchise record for most career games played at any one position with his 1,367th appearance in center field, which moved him past longtime shortstop Jim Fregosi (1,366 games).
Trout, 34, has long been the face of the Angels and is in his 16th season with the team.
“Mike has been in this game a long time, even though he’s still young,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki told MLB.com. “That’s a testament to how special of a talent he is. Anytime you can play this game and surpass milestones, it’s definitely a tribute to the player.”
–Field Level Media
