The Los Angeles Angels begin their highly anticipated 2012 season by hosting the Kansas City Royals on opening day at Angel Stadium in Anaheim. American League Cy Young Award runner-up Jered Weaver takes the mound Friday night for the Angels, opposed by Bruce Chen for Kansas City.
Here are the starting lineups for opening day, which features the regular season debut of Albert Pujols in Anaheim. About Pujols batting third, manager Mike Scioscia told Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com before the game, "I wrote his name first, then filled out everybody else around him."
Royals
Gordon LF
Cain CF
Hosmer 1B
Butler DH
Francoeur RF
Betancourt 2B
Moustakas 3B
Pena C
Escobar SS
Angels
Aybar SS
Kendrick 2B
Pujols 1B
Hunter RF
Wells LF
Morales DH
Trumbo 3B
Iannetta C
Bourjos CF
For more news and notes on the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven. For updates and perspective regarding the Kansas City Royals, head on over to Royals Review.
