Cubs try to slow down hot Halos

Kyle Hendricks hopes to get the Chicago Cubs off to a good start when he faces the visiting Los Angeles Angels for the first time in his six-year career on Saturday afternoon.

Hendricks is an Orange County native who was drafted out of high school by the Angels in the 39th round in 2008, but the right-hander didn't sign with the club.

Hendricks (0-2) is also scheduled to make his first home start of the season in the second game of the three-game series. The Cubs won the opener 5-1 on Friday afternoon.

Hendricks failed to make it through five innings in his first two outings.

He gave up four runs and eight hits in four innings of a 4-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. Six days earlier, he gave up seven runs (two earned) and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings of an 8-0 loss at the Atlanta Braves.

Hendricks has struggled in the first inning the past two seasons. He had a 6.82 ERA in the first inning last season (3.44 overall), and this season batters are 6-for-12 in the opening inning off Hendricks with two homers.

Hendricks has started putting a coach or player in the batter's box when warming up before games, allowing him to simulate his game plan before the real hitters come up.

"Just trying to change something up routine-wise, trying to get myself in a better mindset going into that first inning," Hendricks said. "That seems to be where I'm making my bad pitches. Maybe try and change something up in my pregame. That way I can go out with an aggressive mindset making pitches right out of the gate and not just getting loose."

Hendricks won't have to face the best hitter for Los Angeles.

Mike Trout is back in Southern California after straining his groin on Tuesday against the visiting Brewers. He'll be re-evaluated on Sunday.

Albert Pujols played first base for the third time this season in the series opener and accounted for the only run with a solo homer in the fourth inning. He has hit both his home runs while playing first base this season.

"He's still got plenty of power," Angels manager Brad Ausmus told reporters after the loss Friday.

Angels right-hander Chris Stratton (0-1) will make his third start of the season. He's still trying to get through the fifth inning for the first time this season as well.

Stratton, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants on March 26, gave up two runs and four hits in four innings against the visiting Texas Rangers on Sunday, but didn't get credit for the win in the 7-2 victory.

He went 4 1/3 innings in his team debut against the Seattle Mariners on April 1, allowing four runs and seven hits in the 6-3 loss.

Stratton has made one appearance in his career against the Cubs. That was on May 26 of last season, when he was with the Giants. He gave up three runs and four hits in five innings and earned the win in the 5-4 victory in Chicago.

Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez each homered off Stratton. Daniel Descalso is the only current member of the Cubs who has faced Stratton more than three times and he's 3-for-17 off the right-hander.

--Field Level Media