Angels ride hot streak into series against skidding Royals

In a matchup of teams going in different directions, the Los Angeles Angels visit the Kansas City Royals for a three-game series starting Friday evening.

The surging Angels have won nine of 11 while the slumping Royals have dropped nine straight.

The Royals will not have to deal with Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher -- the Los Angeles two-way star started on the mound Thursday at Texas -- but they still must face his power ba