Kansas City at Los Angeles 10:05 p.m. EDT

A matchup with the slumping Kansas City Royals might give C.J. Wilson just what he needs to get back on track following his worst outing of the season. 

The Los Angeles Angels left-hander will try to do just that while helping his team continue its recent success at home Monday night. 

Wilson (9-6, 2.82 ERA) had a 1.74 ERA over his 10 starts before Wednesday's 7-2 loss in Detroit. He was responsible for all seven of those season-high runs over six innings. 

Wilson would appear to have the chance to counteract that poor outing with a better one against the Royals, who have lost 15 of 20 overall and eight of 10 on the road. He's also 3-0 with a 1.90 ERA over his last three matchups. 

Kansas City's rotation, meanwhile, has a 7.63 ERA over the past 20 games and recently acquired Jeremy Guthrie gave up five runs in his first start with the team, a 7-5 defeat to Minnesota on Sunday. 

The scheduled starter for Monday's game, Bruce Chen (7-8, 5.57), also hasn't helped the Royals lately, going 0-2 with a 10.42 ERA in four starts this month. The left-hander, however, pitched well in the season opener in Anaheim, allowing three hits over six scoreless innings in a 5-0 loss. 

Chen is 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA in three career road starts against the Angels (52-44) and Kansas City (40-54) has won nine of 12 matchups, including two of three in Anaheim from April 6-8. 

The Angels, though, have won 11 of their last 15 home games and took two of three from AL West-leading Texas this weekend following a 2-5 road trip. 

Mike Trout broke an AL rookie and franchise records during a 7-4 win Sunday night by scoring a run in a 14th consecutive game. 

Pujols contributed his fifth home run in 11 games and a double. The Angels slugger, batting .375 (15 for 40) with nine RBIs since the All-Star break, has also hit .375 with 16 homers over 54 career games against Kansas City. 

Pujols has two solo home runs and a double in 10 lifetime at-bats against Chen. 


Trout, Trumbo, Pujols, and Hunter all in the line-up for tonight. That's a combined 70 HRs and 318 RBIs. 


Royals are 3-10 in their last 13 overall.

Royals are 1-5 in their last 6 road games.

Royals are 1-5 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.

Royals are 1-5 in their last 6 games as a road underdog.

Royals are 1-6 in their last 7 games as an underdog.

Royals are 1-4 in Chens last 5 road starts.
Royals are 0-5 in Chens last 5 starts as an underdog.

Angels are 5-1 in their last 6 games as a home favorite.
Angels are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Angels are 13-3 in their last 16 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 games as a favorite.
Angels are 4-1 in their last 5 home games.

Angels are 8-0 in Wilsons last 8 starts following a team loss in their previous game.

Angels are 7-2 in Wilsons last 9 starts as a favorite.

Angels are 8-3 in Wilsons last 11 starts.


It's all about the sluggers tonight beating up on Chen and raising his ERA to about 10. Wilson should do just fine knowing he will have run support from those hitters. Take the Angels with the ace CJ Wilson tossing the ball tonight against the struggling Royals. Playing the RL due to the juice of course. 


LA ANGELS -1½+105

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