Angels face A's, look to extend winning streak to five

Justin Bour may or may not be in the lineup for the Los Angeles Angels on Friday against the Oakland A's, but that's OK with him.

Bour signed a one-year contract for $2.5 million with the Angels during the winter, and got plenty of chances to play early in the season. The designated hitter spot was available because Shohei Ohtani was still recovering from Tommy John surgery, and spelling Albert Pujols provided an occasional spot for him in the lineup at first base.

The Angels, who have won four straight games, were hoping to get the Bour who hit 20 homers last season for Miami and Philadelphia, and 25 homers in 2017 with the Marlins.

But Bour failed miserably, hitting just .163 with four homers, 14 RBIs and 31 strikeouts in 30 games before being sent down to Triple-A Salt Lake on May 14.

After spending nearly a month retooling his swing while playing for the Bees, Bour has returned with a bang, giving the Angels a good option off the bench when either Ohtani or Pujols needs a day off.

In Bour's first game back with the Angels on June 11, he hit a three-run homer in a victory over the Dodgers. In his most recent game, Wednesday against Cincinnati, he homered twice.

Overall in his seven games since returning to the big league club, Bour is hitting .304 with four homers and nine RBIs. Consequently, Bour can be patient while waiting to see his name in the lineup, and feel confident when he gets a chance to play.

"I've felt good for a while now," he said. "Now it's just a matter of contributing when I get the opportunity. Obviously I've been getting playing time sparingly, and I'm just trying to do the most with it when I get the opportunity."

Right-hander Mike Fiers will start on the mound for Oakland, and Bour is hitless in three career at-bats against him. Ohtani is 3-for-5 and Pujols 6-for-25 with two homers, so Bour isn't likely to start the game unless Angels manager Brad Ausmus decides to go with the hot bat. Pujols has just two homers in his past 16 games.

Fiers is 2-0 in two starts against the Angels this season, including his start March 28 when he threw six scoreless innings and allowed just one hit. He's been especially sharp lately, starting with his no-hitter against Cincinnati on May 7. In his last nine starts beginning with the no-hitter, Fiers is 5-0 with a 2.51 ERA.

It's a complete turnaround from the start of the season, which included three consecutive starts in April in which he allowed six runs.

"I was dealing with some things early on in the season," Fiers said. "I think I was throwing pitches different because I was dealing with some things. It was no excuse, because I told (A's manager) Bob (Melvin) I was good to go out every day. Starting off the season bad, I knew I had to pick these guys up. They signed me here to be a leader and win ballgames. I had to put it on myself and pitch better."

In his career against the Angels, Fiers is 5-4 with a 5.19 ERA in 12 games (11 starts).

Reliever Noe Ramirez will be the Angels' "opener" on Friday, scheduled to pitch the first inning followed by Felix Pena, who will take the mound to start the second inning. Pena is 0-2 with an 11.81 ERA in five career games (three starts) against Oakland.

--Field Level Media