Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Angels WATCH FREE: Live Streaming MLB Contest from Angels Stadium at 10:05 PM ET

The Rays were forced to put Erik Bedard in their rotation last month after they lost two more starters to injuries, and it didn't look like the veteran left-hander would stay there very long following his first two turns.

Bedard, though, has turned things around and will try to win three straight starts for the first time in nearly five years Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series against the surging Angels.

Tampa Bay (18-23) purchased Bedard's contract from Triple-A Durham on April 13, and he made one relief appearance before joining the rotation. Bedard went 0-1 with a 9.39 ERA in his first two starts, but he's 2-0 with a 1.06 ERA in the last three.

"I'm always a slow starter so the first couple (starts) were rough, but after that you just get in the groove of things and throw strikes," Bedard told the team's website, who has allowed one or no runs in three straight starts for the first time since 2008.

His best outing came Saturday, when he allowed one hit over six scoreless innings to beat Cleveland 7-1. Bedard (2-1, 3.38 ERA) last won three starts in a row May 27-June 7, 2009, while with Seattle.

"He has a good feel for pitching besides having some good stuff," manager Joe Maddon told the Rays' official website. "I think he's gotten better."

Bedard will be opposed by Tyler Skaggs (3-1, 4.14), who is also coming off an impressive outing. The left-hander gave up three runs and four hits while pitching into the ninth in Saturday's 5-3 victory at Toronto, one start after allowing six runs and eight hits in 2 2/3 innings of a 14-3 home loss to Texas.

The Angels have lost 15 of 19 against the Rays in Anaheim.

The game live streaming on gofirstrowus.eu/sport/baseball.html