The Kansas City Royals will look for Jac Caglianone to prolong an 11-game hitting streak versus the Los Angeles Angels on Friday at 9:38 p.m. ET, at Angel Stadium. Seth Lugo (5-7, 4.41 ERA) will start for the Royals, who are 49-73 this season and fifth in the AL Central. Grayson Rodriguez (3-5, 7.20 ERA) is starting for the Angels, who are 48-74 and fourth in the AL West.

How to watch Kansas City Royals vs. Los Angeles Angels

Royals vs. Angels odds

• Favorite Moneyline: Royals -115
• Underdog Moneyline: Angels -105
• Total: 8.5
• Total Over Odds: -110
• Total Under Odds: -110

Injury reports

Royals

Vinnie Pasquantino: 10 Day IL (Wrist), Maikel Garcia: 10 Day IL (Hand), Tony Gonsolin: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Beck Way: 15 Day IL (Back), Jonathan India: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Cole Ragans: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Luinder Avila: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Alec Marsh: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Carlos Estévez: 60 Day IL (Foot), Nick Mears: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Stephen Kolek: 60 Day IL (Flexor), Connor Seabold: 60 Day IL (Lat), James McArthur: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Salvador Pérez: day-to-day (Elbow)

Angels

Sebastian Rivero: 10 Day IL (Hand), Shaun Anderson: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Sam Bachman: 15 Day IL (Forearm), Jack Kochanowicz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Yoan Moncada: 60 Day IL (Knee), Robert Stephenson: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Anthony Rendón: 60 Day IL (Hip), Yusei Kikuchi: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Oswald Peraza: day-to-day (Hand)

Stats to know

• Bobby Witt Jr. is hitting for a .285 BA, .355 OBP and .448 SLG with a 17.4% strikeout rate and a 9.9% walk rate. His OPS is .803 and he has scored 60 runs. In 453 plate appearances, he has hit 13 home runs and driven in 42 runs. Witt has been crafty on the base paths, recording 32 steals on 38 attempts.
• In 439 plate appearances, Caglianone is hitting .268/.321/.485 with a .806 OPS. He has hit 21 long balls, driven in 53 runs and scored 54 times.
• Mike Trout has hit 20 home runs this season. He has also tallied 45 RBIs and has scored 69 runs. In 461 plate appearances, he has recorded a .245 BA, .388 OBP and .449 SLG with a 17.8% walk rate and a 25.4% strikeout rate. He has been effective on the base paths, recording 10 steals on 10 attempts.
• In 528 plate appearances, Zach Neto has slashed .224/.309/.414 this season. He has hit 20 long balls and driven in 52 runs with a strikeout rate of 32% and a walk rate of 9.5%. He has stolen 16 bases on 26 attempts and has scored 76 runs (12th in MLB).

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies clash on Friday at 10:15 p.m. ET, beginning a three-game series at Oracle Park. Landen Roupp (7-11, 4.22 ERA) gets the start for the Giants, who are 50-71 this season and fourth in the NL West. Kyle Freeland (3-10, 6.63 ERA) is expected to start for the Rockies, who are 48-73 and fifth in the NL West.

How to watch Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants

Rockies vs. Giants odds

• Favorite Moneyline: Giants -133
• Underdog Moneyline: Rockies +110
• Total: 7.5
• Total Over Odds: -110
• Total Under Odds: -110

Injury reports

Giants

Harrison Bader: 10 Day IL (Plantar fasciitis), Casey Schmitt: 10 Day IL (Leg), Daniel Susac: 10 Day IL (Knee), Jesus Rodriguez: 10 Day IL (Elbow), Marcelo Mayer: 10 Day IL (Forearm), Matt Chapman: 60 Day IL (Leg), Rowan Wick: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Jose Butto: 60 Day IL (Arm), Trevor McDonald: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Matt Gage: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Joel Peguero: 60 Day IL (Hamstring), Randy Rodriguez: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Hayden Birdsong: 60 Day IL (Forearm)

Rockies

Tyler Freeman: 10 Day IL (Lumbar), Jaden Hill: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Sean Sullivan: 15 Day IL (Undisclosed), Chase Dollander: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Kris Bryant: 60 Day IL (Back), José Quintana: 60 Day IL (Elbow), McCade Brown: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), RJ Petit: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Welinton Herrera: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Pierson Ohl: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Kyle Karros: 7 Day IL (Concussion)

Stats to know

• San Francisco’s Jung Hoo Lee has hit nine home runs this season. He has also tallied 46 RBIs and has scored 57 runs. In 451 plate appearances, he has recorded a .293 BA, .328 OBP and .437 SLG with a 4% walk rate and a 10.2% strikeout rate. He has been effective on the base paths, recording eight steals on nine attempts.
• In 511 plate appearances, Rafael Devers is hitting .244/.321/.467 with a .788 OPS. He has hit 24 long balls (20th in MLB), driven in 64 runs and scored 62 times.
• Jake McCarthy is hitting for a .300 BA, .337 OBP and .505 SLG with a 16.7% strikeout rate and a 4.6% walk rate. His OPS is .842, which ranks 18th in MLB, and he has scored 56 runs. In 412 plate appearances, he has hit 13 home runs and driven in 67 runs. McCarthy has recorded 19 steals on 22 attempts.
• In 474 plate appearances, TJ Rumfield has hit 13 long balls, tallied 59 RBIs and scored 50 runs. He is batting .294/.371/.453 and has posted a 14.3% strikeout rate and a 9.7% walk rate.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

Inside: Preseason action: how to scout, who impressed and what’s scheduled this weekend. Only 26 days till kickoff!

This article is from The Athletic’s NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. It’s free to subscribe. 

How to scout in August

There’s a term for people who religiously watch preseason football: sickos.

If that’s you, you’re in good company. If not, and you’re open to a lifestyle change, I spoke with three experts to put together this brief guide on how to watch preseason football.

How to watch like a scout, by Ted Nguyen:

“You’re seeing the most vanilla schemes on both sides of the ball, so look for transferable skills and growth. That’s different at each position. For young quarterbacks, you want them to handle the pre-snap operation, make throws in rhythm and not rely on second-reaction plays.

“These games are parts of a larger arc of development, and it’s easy to lose sight of that at times. Carson Beck looked great in the Hall of Fame game, but Beck’s been inconsistent at practice, based on beat reports.”

How to scout for your fantasy team, by Jake Ciely:

“I’m more interested in snap counts in different formations and with starting units, especially if there has been an offensive coordinator or scheme change.

“We’re doing our best to predict so many aspects of each player, which makes usage — whether snaps, touches or formations — much more important than preseason stats.”

Before your next appearance on “The Athletic Football Show,” by co-host Dave Helman:

“The most useful tip I can give for watching preseason football is simple: look for the rookies.

“It’s hard to gauge preseason playing time for almost anyone else on an NFL roster, but rookies will play a lot of snaps these next two weeks, and some of them will be stars in short order. Keep an eye out.”

As for those players, both vets and rookies, who stood out in each category last night …

Preseason Week 1 notebook

Several rookie receivers flashed star potential in yesterday’s preseason action. None more than the No. 33 pick in April’s draft.

All aboard the De’Zhaun Stribling hype train. The 6-foot-2, 207-pound receiver’s debut matched the training camp reports as his impressive hands were on full display against the Titans’ starting corners.

“I don’t know how he missed the first round,” left tackle Trent Williams said during the broadcast. “A guy that big, that can run that hard, as tough as he is, as willing as he is as a blocker, as smart as he is. I don’t understand how we’d miss out on that.”

Stribling caught seven of eight targets for 63 yards in limited action. This 32-yarder was a statement.

The 4.3-speed receiver flashed everything you want to see, and he should be a Week 1 starter. Stock up.

We also saw Fernando Mendoza’s debut. Kirk Cousins started for the Raiders, leading them to a score on his sole series. “It’s his job to lose,” Klint Kubiak said of Cousins, who was sharp against mostly Cardinals starters.

Mendoza came in next and played four drives. One ended in a score, thanks to a 53-yard carry from rookie running back Mike Washington, while another saw the Raiders in field-goal range before a missed 38-yarder. It was a strong start punctuated by this dart.

(Let’s just take a second to pause. Take a deep breath and smile. Football highlights are back.)

Despite the above throw and an admirable stat line (10-of-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown), Mendoza focused on his shortcomings. “I let my teammates down today,” he said afterward. “I need to grow a lot.”

Mendoza will get plenty of time to grow if Cousins builds off the strong start.

Other notes:

Cardinals rookie Jeremiyah Love is fun. He started, ran for 58 yards on 11 carries against mostly Raiders starters, drew comparisons in group chats to Adrian Peterson and made this spin move. Success.

Steelers quarterbacks played well. Mentor Aaron Rodgers sat while Pittsburgh’s backups impressed, specifically Drew Allar. The third-round rookie out of Penn State led three scoring drives, completed 10 of 13 passes and finished with a near-perfect passer rating of 154.8. More takeaways here.

Titans QB Cam Ward underwhelmed. Last year’s No. 1 pick did not look good, missing several open throws and struggling with footwork in Brian Daboll’s offense. Ward finished 5 of 12 for 57 yards against mostly 49ers backups. No. 4 pick Carnell Tate had a quiet debut (three targets, no receptions). It’s preseason Week 1. Exhale, Titans fans.

For more from last night’s action, we’ve got stock reports for the Patriots, Colts, Bengals, Chargers and Lions. For who to watch for this weekend …

Keep an eye on …

It’s a mix of starters and backups in games that kick off at 7 p.m. ET tonight and continue until the Cowboys and Seahawks play at 8 p.m. tomorrow.

How do the Dolphins look? New coach Jeff Hafley has said all of his players should be prepared to play against the Commanders (7 p.m. today), with Malik Willis expected to start in his first game as Miami’s quarterback. His No. 1 receiver might be third-round rookie Caleb Douglas, who is turning heads in camp.

And Browns QBs? Deshaun Watson starts over Shedeur Sanders tomorrow against the Bears (1 p.m.) as the competition continues. (Sanders will start the second game.) I’m more interested in watching rookie receiver Denzel Boston. Most Chicago starters will sit, including Caleb Williams.

We’ve also got the Giants players with the most to gain this weekend, including Odell Beckham Jr., and a similar story for the Vikings, starting with backup quarterback J.J. McCarthy. “Accuracy remains the foremost priority,” per Alec Lewis.

Find the full NFL schedule here.

Extra Points

📺 Buffalo’s new look. No, not the stadium. The defense! Our Robert Mays explains DC Jim Leonhard’s makeover in this video.

🛑 Can Daniels stop LSU? The school wants to give his old No. 5 to another player. That’s fair game. But can he stop them from using his name and likeness? The Athletic investigated.

📃 Seahawks to add Terrion Arnold. The 2024 first-round cornerback is expected to land in Seattle amid legal troubles stemming from an alleged kidnapping incident.

📃 Panthers add Darren Waller. The 33-year-old was once an elite receiving option but has struggled to stay healthy. He joins Carolina after scoring six touchdowns in nine games for Miami last season.

▶️ Most-clicked: Michael Silver’s sit-down with (a very focused) Fernando Mendoza.

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