Albert Pujols: Los Angeles Angels Fans Should Expect Big Things in Opener

Albert Pujols will likely cause some St. Louis Cardinals fans to shed a tear on Friday night, as he begins the second stage of his storied career with the Los Angeles Angels.

Los Angeles is a hefty minus-210 home favorite against the Kansas City Royals in the first game of a three-game weekend series inside Angel Stadium.

Pujols comes in with a .379 career average versus Kansas City, which ranks second all time among major league players with at least 150 plate appearances.

He has a great chance to continue hitting at that clip against tonight's opponent due to a torrid spring, which saw him lead all AL players with seven round-trippers.

The only thing that could potentially slow him down tonight against Royals starter Bruce Chen is the new surroundings, as he's never swung the bat in a regular-season game inside tonight's venue.

Something tells me that Angels fans will get to see something special regardless, considering the 32-year-old slugger brings in a .415 average with four home runs and 13 RBI during his career on Opening Day.

Angels hurler Jered Weaver may not need a lot of run support due to his incredible 1.85 ERA at home since the start of the 2010 campaign, but Pujols will likely help jump start an offense that scored just 702 and 633 runs the last two years.

The franchise is scheduled to start celebrating the 10-year anniversary of winning the 2002 World Series, but all eyes will be focused on the team's new first baseman in a white No. 5 jersey tonight.