C.J. Wilson Opens Angels’ Three-Game Set with Royals

May 17, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher C.J. Wilson before pitching the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Jered Weaver’s outing last Wednesday was nothing short of masterful.

After the Astros clobbered Weaver for four home runs April 6, the Angels’ ace two-hit the division rival and posted his first complete game in nearly two years. Weaver struck out five and walked one, utilizing just 94 pitches.

The victory is a sign of everything that’s gone right for Los Angeles over the last two weeks. They’ve won 10 of the last 13, dating back to the start of a six-game road trip, and have won four series’ in a row. Since May 9, the pitching staff has allowed three runs of fewer in all but three games.

With Kole Calhoun and David Freese back-and Josh Hamilton and Dane De La Rosa on the mend-the Angels have a lot of roster moves on the horizon. Whether these moves hinder the team’s momentum remains to be seen.

Pitching Matchup– C.J. Wilson (5-3, 3.16 ERA) vs. Danny Duffy (2-3, 1.42 ERA)

Coming off his first shutout since 2011, C.J. Wilson looks for his fourth straight victory at Angel Stadium. The 33-year-old lefty limited Tampa Bay to five hits while striking out seven in the Angels 6-0 win last Saturday. Wilson has 61 strikeouts through nine starts and holds a career-best 2.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio; punching out at least five batters in all but one outing.

Wilson’s 3-0 lifetime mark against Kansas City is deceptive. He’s shut them out in 11 relief innings but has allowed 10 runs over the last three starts. In 2012, Wilson faces the Royals for the first time since Sept. 4, 2012 when he yielded four runs- three earned- in five innings.

Last Saturday, Danny Duffy took a perfect game into the seventh inning against Baltimore before Adam Jones broke it up with a single. He began the season as a reliever but carries a 1.06 ERA in three starts since. While Duffy’s never faced the Angels, he owns a 0.73 ERA in 12 1/3 inning on the road this year.

Walk offs:

Mike Trout will be in the lineup after resting a sore hamstring Wednesday.
Left-handers are batting .043 against Duffy this season.
The Angels were 5-2 against Kansas City last season, losing two of three at home.

TV: 7:05 p.m. PT, Fox Sports West, Fox Sports Kansas City

Radio: KLAA 830, KCSP 610