MLB Game Preview - LA Angels at Toronto

Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:07 PM EDT

The visiting Los Angeles Angels will go for a sweep of their four-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday night.

Left-hander Jose Suarez (2-1, 4.50 ERA) will start for the Angels against Blue Jays left-hander Clayton Richard (0-3, 7.52).

The Angels, who defeated the Blue Jays 11-6 Wednesday behind Mike Trout's two home runs and career-best seven RBIs, have won all six of their games this season against the Blue Jays so far.

"He was very Mike Troutish today," Angels manager Brad Ausmus told reporters following Wednesday's game.

Trout had a two-run homer, his sixth career grand slam and an RBI single.

"He's incredible to watch day in, day out," said Angels infielder Tommy La Stella, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI himself. "The quality of his at-bats, it's just impressive."

"It was just a fun night," Trout said. "We're playing good baseball now. We've just got to keep it going."

Trout has 11 home runs in his past 19 games after recording the 16th multi-homer game of his career. He has a career .631 slugging average at the Rogers Centre, the highest for any player with more than 100 at-bats.

The Angels are 5-2 during an 11-game road trip. They are one game above .500 for the first time since April 13, when they were 8-7.

The Blue Jays have dropped to a season-low 22 games below .500. They have lost seven consecutive home games for the first time since they lost eight in a row at home April 5-21, 2004. They are 12-25 at home this season.

The Blue Jays did have some positives Wednesday, particularly with two home runs and four RBIs by Rowdy Tellez. He has 13 homers this season, tied with Randal Grichuk for the team lead.

Suarez will make his fourth start of season and his third on the road. He earned the win Saturday against the Rays at Tampa Bay after matching his season high with 5 2/3 innings. He allowed three earned runs on five hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.

He made his first career major league start on June 2 at Seattle. He opened the season on the injured list with Triple-A Salt Lake because of a shoulder injury that limited him to one appearance in spring training. In five games for Salt Lake, he was 2-0 with a 3.91 ERA.

Richard will make his sixth start of the season after opening the season on the injured list because of a right knee stress reaction. He is trying for his first win with the Blue Jays. He has faced the Angels once in his career, taking a no-decision Aug. 13 in San Diego.

Richard will try to avoid the problem Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez had on Wednesday, falling behind in the count. "That team over there is swinging the bats really well," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. "You can't be falling behind a good-hitting team like that."

Montoyo does appreciate that his team does not seem to give up. "Even though we've been losing a lot lately, everybody keeps pulling for each other," he said.

Montoyo said the Blue Jays could have closer Ken Giles back on Thursday or Friday. He is on the injured list with right elbow inflammation.

--Field Level Media