It’s first base by committee for Angels

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Robb Quinlan will be the third player to start at first base for the Angels in three games since Kendry Morales broke a bone above his left ankle in a freak home-plate mishap after his walk-off grand slam against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

Quinlan got the nod at first base against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. Catcher Mike Napoli started at first base Sunday, and outfielder Michael Ryan started at first on Monday.

The Angels will look to extend their win streak to three and to push their record to .500 for the first time since April 30, when they were 12-12. They will also try to continue their recent mastery of the Royals.

The Angels, who won the opener of a four-game series, 7-1, on Monday, went 9-1 against the Royals in 2009, and since 2004 the Angels are 36-12 against Kansas City, including a 24-6 mark in Kauffman Stadium.

Doctors are still waiting for the swelling in Morales’ leg to subside enough for them to perform surgery that could sideline the switch-hitting slugger for the remainder of the season, though the Angels are hopeful Morales can return in September.

Catcher Jeff Mathis, sidelined since April 20 because of a broken bone in his right wrist, took early batting practice Tuesday and will join the Angels for regular batting practice Wednesday. He expects to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment with triple-A Salt Lake on Friday or Saturday, which would put him in line to be activated late next week.

--Mike DiGiovanna in Kansas City