Texas @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 30, 2010 ) Texas 6, LA Angels 4

The All-Star Game push is on for Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jered Weaver. But it all could be for naught.

Weaver leads the American League in strikeouts heading into Thursday’s start in the finale of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers, and he would like to be part of the American League team for the All-Star Game on July 13th at Angel Stadium.

But there are circumstances that could keep him from pitching in the game if he should be selected – even if he goes on a roll over his next three starts.

Weaver’s third July start is slated for July 11 against Oakland, and there’s a rule in place that prohibits a pitcher who starts the Sunday before the game from being placed on the squad.

So unless Weaver has his final start before the break moved up a day, he won’t be eligible to have his first All-Star appearance come in his home ballpark.

Weaver will need to stay hot in order for that to be an issue. He is 7-3 with a 3.01 earned-run average and 118 strikeouts entering the start against the Rangers.

Weaver has struck out 44 batters and walked just four over his last five starts. He took a no-decision in his last outing when he held Colorado to two runs and five hits over seven innings.

Weaver had a tough outing against Texas earlier this season when the Rangers torched him for seven runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings. Weaver allowed three homers in the game.

Former Angels standout Vladimir Guerrero had one of those homers, and has terrorized his former teammates over the first two games of the series.

Guerrero is 6-for-8 with three homers and eight RBIs, and went 4-for-4 with two homers and five RBIs in the Rangers’ victory on Wednesday.

Texas outfielder Josh Hamilton went 1-for-3 on Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to 23 games. Hamilton is hitting .389 (7-for-18) with four doubles against Weaver.

C.J. Wilson (6-3, 3.35) starts Thursday’s contest for Texas and he had a rough outing against the Angels on May 18. Wilson allowed seven runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Wilson has won his last three decisions. He beat the Houston Astros in his last start and gave up two runs and five hits over seven innings.

Angels center fielder Torii Hunter is 3-for-5 with two homers and five RBIs against Wilson. He also has drawn four walks.

Meanwhile, Texas moved to shore up its shaky catching situation by acquiring Bengie Molina from the San Francisco Giants for reliever Chris Ray and a player to be named later.

Molina is batting .257 with three homers and 17 RBIs this season. Molina had 80 or more RBIs in each of the past three seasons for the Giants.

The Rangers have been rotating Matt Treanor and Max Ramirez behind the plate. Opening Day catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is currently in the minors.