Los Angeles (64-54) at Toronto (59-58)

There’s a good chance that Vernon Wells’(notes) return to Toronto could be overshadowed by a teammate who is one of the hottest pitchers in baseball.

Ervin Santana(notes) seeks to win his fifth straight start for the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night when Wells plays his first game as a visitor at Rogers Centre.

Wells was dealt to Los Angeles (64-54) in January after spending his first 12 seasons with Toronto (59-58). He’s in the fifth year of a seven-year, $126 million deal and hasn’t been anywhere near worth his estimated $26.1 million 2011 salary with a career-low .208 average, 16 homers and 44 RBIs.

The left fielder returns to Canada mired in a 9-for-64 slump. He went 1 for 13 against the Blue Jays as the Angels took two of three at home April 8-10.

Any lack of production from Wells may not matter Friday since Santana (8-8, 3.21 ERA) has needed minimal support lately. Santana is 5-0 with a 1.57 ERA over his last eight starts, has a 0.79 ERA in winning his past four, and he’s struck out 24 over his last three beginning with his no-hitter July 27 at Cleveland.

The right-hander fell two outs shy of a third straight complete game Sunday in a 2-1 home win over Seattle.

“I’m doing the same things I’ve been doing the whole year,” Santana said. “I haven’t changed. I had command of every pitch. Everything was working good.”

Santana posted a 2.32 ERA in winning all four starts against the Blue Jays the previous two seasons before yielding three runs over eight innings in a 3-2 loss April 8. Major league home run leader Jose Bautista(notes) is 3 for 12 with a solo shot against him.

The Angels dropped the final two games of a three-game set against the Yankees, falling 6-5 on Thursday. Maicer Izturis’(notes) error with two outs in the seventh inning loaded the bases and led to Robinson Cano’s(notes) go-ahead grand slam for New York.

“That was certainly out of the blue,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “You wouldn’t expect that.”

Los Angeles is two games behind AL West leader Texas and returns home after this series to begin a four-game set against the Rangers on Monday.

Torii Hunter(notes) went 6 for 13 this April against the Blue Jays, who were swept at home in a three-game set by the Angels last season from April 16-18.

Brandon Morrow(notes) (8-6, 4.51) will get the ball for Toronto after he gave up six runs - three earned - over 7 2-3 innings Saturday in a 6-2 loss at Baltimore. The Orioles are the only team to beat him over his last 10 starts - he’s lost twice to them in that span while going 6-0 with a 2.82 ERA in the other eight outings.

The right-hander has started twice against the Angels in his career, going 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA. Morrow has a 5.95 ERA at home this season compared to his 2.97 mark on the road.