OAKLAND Rashan Gary Jersey , Calif. — Two teams reeling after getting swept by clubs ahead of them in the American League West look to get things going in a positive direction at the other’s expense when the Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics open a three-game series Friday night.

Left-hander Tyler Skaggs (5-4, 3.08 ERA), who contributed to the Angels’ early run against the A’s with an impressive outing in the second game of the season, will get the call in the series opener against Oakland right-hander Chris Bassitt (0-1, 1.29).

The Angels have lost four in a row, the last three in Seattle, since Skaggs last pitched on Saturday at Minnesota. The 26-year-old won that game 2-1, giving him consecutive victories in which he allowed just one run in 13 innings.

He’s gone just 1-4 with a 5.08 ERA in six career starts against the A’s.

The Angels limp into Oakland at the end of a nine-game trip on which they’ve gone 2-4 so far. They are currently without shortstop Andrelton Simmons Hakeem Butler Jersey , third baseman Zack Cozart, outfielder Kole Calhoun and outfielder/pitcher Shohei Ohtani.

The club promoted David Fletcher from Triple-A to replace Simmons, and the 24-year-old banged out three hits in his major-league debut Wednesday at Seattle.

But with Cozart, who had moved to shortstop while Fletcher manned third base, having injured his shoulder in the game, it’s possible the rookie will find himself at shortstop at some point in this series.

It’s not exactly the way Angels manager Mike Scioscia had envisioned using the young player upon his initial call-up.

“It’s not ideal to have young players who aren’t out there hitting every day,” Scioscia said of Fletcher’s current status. “But there is still a role for them to help us win games.”

The A’s enter the series relatively healthy, but a bit shaken emotionally after getting shellacked three straight at home by Houston. Oakland had won three of four from Kansas City to begin a 10-game homestand.

Bassitt will look to end the losing streak with a performance similar to the one he put forth Saturday upon being called up from Triple-A.

In his first major-league game since 2016, he limited Kansas City to one run and three hits in seven innings in a 2-0 loss.

The 29-year-old hasn’t seen the Angels since 2015 Chris Lindstrom Jersey , when he faced them twice, including a September start in which he yielded six runs in 3 2/3 innings in an 8-1 loss.

Bassitt logged an 0-1 record and 9.53 ERA in those two appearances.

The A’s were outscored 26-11 in the Houston series, with Khris Davis accounting for a majority of the offense with three home runs among five hits. He scored five times and drove in three.

Davis’ home run Thursday was his 20th of the season, giving this series two of the AL’s four sluggers with 20 or more homers. The Angels’ Mike Trout leads the league with 23.

Oakland’s Matt Chapman left Thursday’s 7-3 loss with a sore right hand. The A’s were awaiting the results of an MRI before determining his status for the Angels series.

TAMPA BAY (4-10) at CAROLINA (10-4) Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Fox OPENING LINE – Panthers by 9 RECORD VS. SPREAD – Tampa Bay 4-9-1, Carolina 9-5 SERIES RECORD – Panthers lead 21-13 LAST MEETING -Panthers beat Buccaneers 17-3, Oct. 17 LAST WEEK – Buccaneers lost to Falcons 24-21; Panthers beat Packers 31-24 AP PRO32 RANKING -Buccaneers No. 28, Panthers No. 6 (tie) BUCCANEERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (11) http://www.falconsauthorizedshops.com/a … ary-jersey , RUSH (27), PASS (5) BUCCANEERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (31), RUSH (23), PASS (32) PANTHERS OFFENSE – OVERALL (17), RUSH (4), PASS (27) PANTHERS DEFENSE – OVERALL (5), RUSH (5), PASS (11) STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES – Bucs have lost four straight. … Bucs QB Jameis Winston completed 27 of 35 passes for 299 yards with three TDs last week vs. Falcons. Winston has five TDs vs. one INT in past three road games. … RB Doug Martin has 282 yards rushing in past three games vs. Carolina. … RB Peyton Barber has two TDs in past two games vs. NFC South foes. … WR Mike Evans has seven TD catches in last 10 games. … LB Lavonte David has NFL-high five forced fumbles. David averaging nine tackles in five games vs. Panthers Kendall Sheffield Jersey , and has two sacks, two forced fumbles and interception. … LB Kwon Alexander had 13 tackles vs. Falcons. … CB Brent Grimes goes for third straight game with INT against Carolina. … Bucs allowing NFL-worst 276.1 yards passing per game. … Panthers are 6-1 in last seven games. They can clinch playoff spot with win. … Panthers have won four straight at home. … QB Cam Newton has 12 TDs (eight passing, four rushing) in last four home games vs. Tampa Bay. Newton needs 31 yards rushing to move into third place all-time among NFL QBs.… RB Jonathan Stewart has five TDs rushing in past four games. … Rookie RB Christian McCaffrey leads NFL rookies with 73 catches and ranks fourth in TDs with seven. … TE Greg Olsen had season-high 116 yards on nine catches vs. Packers. … OLB Thomas Davis suspended for game due to illegal hit last week on Packers WR Davante Adams. David Mayo will start … DE Julius Peppers one of four players in NFL history with 10 or more sacks in 10-plus seasons. … Pro Bowl LB Luke Kuechly has 43 tackles and two INTs in past five games vs. Tampa Bay. … CB Daryl Worley and James Bradberry have picks in back-to-back games. …Fantasy Tip: Panthers WR Damiere Byrd had two TD catches last week vs. Packers, worth adding or activating. —