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Angels-Royals Preview

Jun 2, 2010 - 4:03 AM By MATT BROWN STATS Editor

Los Angeles (26-27) at Kansas City (21-31), 8:10 p.m. EDT

For the Los Angeles Angels, the climb back to mediocrity is proving difficult. Fortunately for them, nobody is running away with the AL West.

After letting a chance to return to .500 go by the boards, the Angels send struggling Scott Kazmir to the mound Wednesday night when they continue their four-game series with the Royals in Kansas City.

Three-time reigning West champion Los Angeles (26-28) is struggling to escape a season-long rut. The Angels have had a losing record since May 1, when they suffered the second loss of a season-high seven-game skid. After winning Monday's series opener 7-1, the had a chance to win a fourth straight game and climb back to .500 on Tuesday.

Instead, the Royals plated four runs off starter Joel Pineiro in the fifth inning to take a lead they'd never relinquish thanks to 3 2-3 perfect innings from the bullpen in a 6-3 victory. After the Angels put runners on second and third in the sixth, Kansas City reliever Robinson Tejeda got Juan Rivera to fly out and struck out Mike Napoli to end Los Angeles' final threat of the night.

Tejeda has given up one earned run over his last 18 1-3 innings.

"He's been basically lights out since I've been here," manager Ned Yost said.

Despite their struggles, the Angels remain in the thick of the West race, 2 1/2 games behind both Oakland and Texas for the division lead.

Much like his team, Kazmir (3-5, 6.34 ERA) is failing to live up to expectations. The onetime Tampa Bay ace has given up four runs or more in five of nine starts in his first full season in Los Angeles, and is 1-4 with a 6.91 ERA over his last five outings.

Kazmir surrendered six runs and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings of Friday's 8-3 loss to Seattle, striking out a season-low one.

"I thought my slider and changeup were good, but when I get behind, I can't throw them the way I'd like," Kazmir said. "They definitely weren't biting on my off-speed stuff. They were locked down on the fastball. Once you get the fastball in for a strike, it opens up so much."

The two-time All-Star left-hander is 2-2 with a 4.89 ERA in eight starts against the Royals, but is winless in four outings at Kauffman Stadium.

Kansas City (22-31) has performed in a curious pattern recently, alternating three-game winning streaks with three-game losing skids since May 19. If the pattern holds, the Royals would be due for another victory in this matchup - Tuesday's win snapped the latest three-game slide.

Kyle Davies (4-3, 4.92) will take the mound seeking to continue the trend. The right-hander made two starts against Los Angeles last season, limiting the Angels to one run each time and earning a 6-3 home win Sept. 7, when he scattered five hits and six walks over five innings.

Davies was mostly ineffective Friday at Boston, giving up five runs in five innings, but benefited from generous run support and got credit for the Royals' 12-5 win.