ANAHEIM, Calif. (Interstat) — The Tampa Bay Rays, owners of the best record in the American League, will try to extend their strong start when they visit the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium on Friday night.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. PDT.

Left-hander Shane McClanahan (6-3, 2.89 ERA) is the probable starter for Tampa Bay. He will be opposed by Angels lefty Sam Aldegheri (1-1, 4.15 ERA). The Angels have not officially confirmed Aldegheri as the starter, but the club is expected to announce the decision before game time.

The Rays (40-25) lead the AL East by 4½ games and are coming off a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Wednesday’s 7-5 win featured a dominant outing from right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who allowed two hits and no runs over seven innings while striking out 13. The Angels (27-42) are last in the AL West but snapped a two-game skid Wednesday with a 3-2, 10-inning victory over the Houston Astros. Left-hander Reid Detmers worked seven innings, giving up one run and one hit with nine strikeouts.

Rasmussen, who will not pitch Friday, has been outstanding in his past five starts, posting a 0.72 ERA over four of those outings. The lone exception came May 30 against the Angels, when he allowed five earned runs in four innings. Detmers, meanwhile, has been sharp lately, allowing one earned run or fewer in three of his past four starts.

Head-to-head this season, the teams split a three-game series at Tropicana Field from May 29-31. The Angels won the middle game 14-3, but the Rays won the opener and finale.

Friday’s game is the first of a three-game set. The Rays are listed as -1.5 run-line favorites in early betting, and the over/under is set at 8½ runs.

Tampa Bay’s lineup has been balanced, while the Angels rely on veteran Mike Trout — who homered Wednesday — and catcher Logan O’Hoppe. O’Hoppe went 2-for-2 with a homer and an RBI in the win over Houston.

The Rays will look to continue their dominance against a struggling Angels club that has lost 10 of its last 14.