Angels start road series against Pirates with Ryan Johnson on mound

The Los Angeles Angels begin a road series tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates following a difficult homestand. Ryan Johnson receives the starting nod for the Angels, tasked with countering Pittsburgh starter Jared Jones. The Angels enter the matchup having won only one of their previous ten contests, largely hampered by offensive struggles that have limited the team to three or fewer runs in 11 of their last 12 games. While the starting rotation recently provided a series of strong outings, the bullpen remains a focal point of inconsistency for the club. Conversely, the Pirates are currently three games below.500 and five games outside the National League wild-card picture. Pittsburgh aims to leverage the current series to maintain their recent upward trend in the standings.

• 12:09 PMYahoo Sports — Angels Open Road Trip Behind Ryan Johnson Against Pirates