Game Preview: Athletics At Angels

(AP) - Mike Trout is off to a strong start, but with a lack of contributions from elsewhere in the lineup, Los Angeles has struggled when he doesn't produce.

The Angels hope others can step up in Monday night's opener of a four-game set against the visiting Oakland Athletics.

Trout is batting .364 with nine RBIs - both team highs - but went 0 for 8 in back-to-back losses to Houston as the Angels (5-7) totaled three runs. Los Angeles has averaged only 2.4 runs in the seven contests in which Trout has failed to drive in a run. Johnny Giavotella, batting .314, is the only other everyday player hitting better than .213.

Albert Pujols, second on the club last year with 105 RBIs, is batting .186, though he hit his third homer Sunday. Cleanup hitter Matt Joyce is batting .184 for the Angels, who are 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position over the last three games.

"We have some guys who are good hitters who aren't getting hits to fall in right now," manager Mike Scioscia told MLB's official website. "I think the track record with some of these guys shows what they can do."

They've also committed four errors in the last three contests, including two in Sunday's 4-3 loss.

"We let some things slip away. If you're not swinging the bats, you've got to make sure you're getting the outs you're supposed to get, and we're having trouble doing that," Scioscia said.

Los Angeles' 83 errors last year tied for the majors' third-fewest.

The Angels won seven of the final eight meetings with the Athletics last season and have won seven of eight matchups in Anaheim.

Oakland (6-7) has lost three of four, and third baseman Brett Lawrie is likely happy to face a new opponent after a heated series with Kansas City. He was hit by a pitch Saturday and had a 100 mph fastball thrown behind him Sunday. Lawrie seemed to spark problems between the teams Friday with a hard slide into Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar, though he figures to be more comfortable versus the Angels. Lawrie has three homers and three doubles in his last 10 against them.

Los Angeles has won 10 straight games with scheduled starter Matt Shoemaker (2-0, 4.38 ERA) on the hill, and he's 9-0 with a 1.92 ERA in that span. He hasn't been particularly dominating this season, however, allowing six runs over 12 1-3 innings in victories at Seattle and Texas. Shoemaker struck out seven in last Monday's 6-3 win over the Rangers, recovering for 5 1-3 scoreless innings after a three-run first.

He won his only start against Oakland, throwing seven shutout innings last August.

Oakland's Kendall Graveman (1-1, 7.27) earned his first career win at Houston on Tuesday, throwing 5 1-3 scoreless innings and recovering nicely after being tagged for eight runs in 3 1-3 innings in his first big league start five days earlier.

"For a youngster who had a tough first outing that shows you a little bit of what he's made of because you're still thinking about, to an extent, you want to get past that first outing that didn't go well," manager Bob Melvin said.

Ben Zobrist is tied for second on the club with eight RBIs, but his status is unclear after he left in the fifth inning Sunday with left knee soreness.

"I'll have to see how I wake up (Monday)," he said.

Billy Butler was 0 for 2, ending his season-opening hitting streak at 12 games.

Updated April 20, 2015