Billy Butler is one of the main reasons why Kansas City leads the league in hits.
The Kansas City Royals make a rare national television appearance Sunday night on ESPN when they conclude a three-game series at Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Royals had won six of their last eight games after defeating the Angels 2-1 in 10 innings during Friday's opener of this three-game set as 140 road underdogs. The combined three runs dipped below the 9 ½-run closing total, enabling the ‘under' to improve to 8-2 in the Royals' last 10 outings.
Prior to Friday's victory, the Royals had lost four in a row at Los Angeles and 15 of 18 overall
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The Angels took three of four at Kansas City from May 31-June 3, outscoring the Royals in the process, 22-13. The ‘under' cashed in three of the four games, leaving the ‘under' 30-9 in the last 39 series matchups.
The Royals lead all of baseball with 786 hits.
Anthony Lerew (1-1, 3.63) will make his fourth start for the Royals. The ‘under' has cashed in his first three starts, with the Royals winning two of the three.
The 27-year-old right-hander is off a fine performance against the White Sox on June 28. He allowed just one run on three hits through six innings spanning 92 pitches en route to a 3-1 victory as a 115 home underdog. Lerew walked one, fanned four and allowed one home run.
Entering Saturday's contest, Kansas City was 17-24 on the road, 12-17 in one-run games and had a minus-30 run differential (357-387).
Things had gone well for the Angels during this 12-game homestand (their longest of the season) until Friday's loss. The Angels began the stand by taking two of three each from the rival Dodgers, Colorado and the AL West-leading Rangers.
Though the Angels were eight games above .500 after Friday's loss, they have been outscored 388-385. The Halos are 23-19 at home, 14-9 in one-run games and 31-24 against right-handed starters.
Joel Pineiro (8-6, 4.23 ERA) will get the ball for the Angels in Sunday's finale trying to extend his personal five-game winning streak. The Halos are 10-6 in his first 16 starts, with the ‘over/under' split 8-8.
The 32-year-old right-hander had allowed one earned run in four straight starts until yielding three runs last Tuesday against Texas in his most recent assignment. Nevertheless, the Angels registered a 6-5 win as 115 home favorites.
Pineiro allowed the three runs on eight hits (one homer) through six innings spanning 91 pitches. He walked two batters and fanned four. The victory lifted Pineiro's home ledger to 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA. The Angels are 7-2 in his nine home starts.
The Angels began the second half of their schedule without left fielder Juan Rivera, who missed his third straight game because of blurred vision and may have to sit out the rest of this three-game series.
Rivera is hitting just .239, but he has 10 homers and 34 RBI.
Prior to this series, Angels' starting pitchers led the Majors with 498 2/3 innings pitched. Since the 2004 season, the Angels are 38-13 against the Royals.