Opposite dugout: Angels hope Trout's return is catalyst in wild card race

Manager: Mike Scioscia (18th season)

Record: 46-49

Last 10 games: 3-7

Who to watch: CF Mike Trout (.337/.457/.714 with 16 HR, 36 RBIs), SS Andrelton Simmons (.291 with 39 RBIs), DH Albert Pujols (14 HR, 56 RBIs), RHP Ricky Nolasco (4-10, 4.82 ERA), RHP Bud Norris (2.35 ERA, 14 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-1 in 2014)

Pitching probables:

July 18: RHP Edwin Jackson vs. RHP Jesse Chavez, 10:07 p.m., MASN2
July 19: LHP Gio Gonzalez vs. RHP Ricky Nolasco, 10:07 p.m., MASN2

Inside the Angels:

There's good news and bad news for the Angels after their first series coming out of the All-Star break. The good news: Mike Trout returned after missing 39 games with a thumb injury and went 4-for-12 with a walk and three strikeouts in three games against the Rays. The bad news: The Angels lost two of three at home to the Rays to fall to a season-worst fourth place in the American League West, three games below .500 and three games out of the final AL wild card spot.

Despite the 39-game absence, Trout is slashing .337/.457/.714 with 16 home runs and 36 RBIs on the season. Although Albert Pujols is only hitting .241 on the season, he did enjoy reaching a significant milestone earlier this season by becoming just the ninth player in major league history to hit 600 home runs. His grand slam on June 3 against the Twins made him the fourth-youngest player to join the 600 homer club (behind Alex Rodriguez, Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron) and the first player to hit No. 600 with a slam. Shortstop Andrelton Simmons is enjoying a strong year, batting .291 with 39 RBIs while ranking fifth in the American League with a 4.3 WAR.

Meanwhile, the Nationals could see a few former teammates in this quick two-game series in Los Angeles. Yunel Escobar is hitting .287 with 25 RBIs, while Ben Revere is struggling at the plate, batting .229, which has limited his playing opportunities. And Yusmeiro Petit has posted a 2.96 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 34 appearances. Danny Espinosa, who went to L.A. in the trade for Austin Adams and Kyle McGowin over the winter, was designated for assignment on Sunday after batting just .162.

Jesse Chavez will be the first of two veteran right-handers the Angels start against the Nats. He is 5-10 with a 4.99 ERA in 19 appearances (18 starts) this season. Chavez is having trouble getting deep into games, only making it past the fifth inning two times in his last six starts. He has a 3.52 ERA in seven relief appearances against the Nationals, who currently slash .355/.429/.548 off Chavez. Ricky Nolasco takes the mound for Wednesday's finale, bringing a 4-10 record and 4.82 ERA. He's had an up-and-down July, which started with a complete-game shutout of the Mariners. But he followed up that gem by giving up eight runs in just 1 1/3 innings in Texas. However, he got the ball to start the Halos' second half and pitched seven innings of one-run, two-hit ball. Nolasco has a history with the Nats from his 7 1/2 years with the Marlins, going 11-7 with a 3.65 ERA in 23 games (21 starts).

The Angles bullpen has a 3.80 ERA, thanks in large part to Bud Norris, who has reignited his career as a full-time reliever. He has a 2.35 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP, 49 strikeouts and 14 saves in 39 appearances this season.