Los Angeles @ Texas preview
Choctaw Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 23, 2010 ) LA Angels 0, Texas 1
It was uncertain how the Texas Rangers would react heading into a four-game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with the inside track to the AL West title on the line.
After all, the Rangers haven’t been to the playoffs since 1999, while the Angels have won the past three division titles. But over the first two games of the series, Texas has shown an ability to raise its level in big games, grinding out a pair of one-run victories.
The Rangers and Angels meet in the third game on Saturday night, with the Rangers sending right-hander Scott Feldman to the hill. The Angels will counter with right-hander Ervin Santana.
Feldman will try to follow the impressive starts of Cliff Lee and C.J. Wilson. Both Lee and Wilson went at least eight innings, and handed the ball off to closer Neftali Feliz with a one-run advantage.
And it would be a good time for Feldman to get going. In fact, if Feldman struggles, there is talk around the team that his rotation spot could be in jeopardy once Derek Holland or Rich Harden are ready to return from the disabled list.
Feldman struggled in his last start against the Detroit Tigers on Monday, allowing five runs and seven hits in five innings. He got the Rangers into an early hole, giving up single runs the first three innings. The Rangers eventually responded and posted an 8-6 victory in 14 innings.
Over his last five starts, Feldman is 0-2 with a 6.37 ERA. He has allowed an American League-high 147 hits and opponents are batting .313 against him.
Feldman is 4-5 with a 5.54 ERA in 19 career games against the Angels, including 10 starts. In his one start against them this season on June 29, Feldman went 5 2/3 innings and allowed five runs and nine hits.
Offensively, Michael Young paced the Rangers on Friday. Young belted his second consecutive first-inning home run, and that proved to be the difference in the contest. It was only the ninth 1-0 game in the history of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
The rest of the Rangers offense struggled, as the team finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.
Santana, meanwhile, has pitched well of late for the Angels, going 7-4 with a 3.19 ERA over his last 12 games. In his last start against the Mariners on Sunday, Santana allowed one run and three hits in seven innings. He also issued four walks, but struck out seven.
Santana has yet to face the Rangers this season, but in 16 career starts against them, he is 8-6 with a 6.06 ERA.
Offensively, the Angels struggled on Friday, as their Nos. 2-5 hitters went a combined 0-for-14 with three strikeouts.