Texas @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 1, 2010 ) Texas 1, LA Angels 4
With two weeks left in the season, most people would naturally assume that the Los Angeles Angels would be making a stretch run to the AL West title. After all, they’ve won the division crown the past three years.
But this looks to be the Texas Rangers’ year in the AL West - and they'll pay a visit to the Angels on Monday to open a three-game series.
Texas, which has a magic number of six to clinch a postseason berth, will send left-hander Derek Holland to the hill. Los Angeles will counter with right-hander Jered Weaver.
The Rangers and Angels will meet seven times over the next two weeks. Texas has won seven of the 12 meetings, but Los Angeles as outscored its foes, 48-46, this season.
Still, the Rangers should feel comfortable with Holland on the mound. He has faced the Angels more than any other team in his brief two-year career, going 3-2 with a 5.23 ERA in six games.
When Holland faced the Angels on May 17, he earned the win after allowing three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Last year, Holland threw a complete-game, three-hit shutout against the Angels in Anaheim.
The hurler lasted only four innings in his previous start against the Detroit Tigers. He yielded four runs - one earned - and four hits en route to a no-decision.
Since being recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Aug. 28, Holland is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in four games, including three starts. Holland has added motivation, too, as he is fighting for a spot on the Rangers’ postseason roster.
Offensively, the Rangers have been inconsistent without Josh Hamilton in the lineup. There is still no timetable for the slugger to return, as he continues to be sidelined with a bruised rib cage.
Texas managed only one run on Sunday on Nelson Cruz’s solo shot in the sixth. The Rangers did finish with 10 hits, but were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.
The Angels, meanwhile, are trying to finish their season on a high note.
Weaver has allowed only one run over his past 18 innings and leads the majors with 218 strikeouts.
Against the Rangers this season, Weaver is 2-1 with a 3.65 ERA in four starts. In his career, he has 100 strikeouts against the Rangers, the most strikeouts against any opponent.
Weaver tossed seven scoreless innings against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. He allowed just one hit and struck out seven in the outing.
Offensively, the Angels are coming off a 6-3 victory over the Rays on Sunday. Bobby Abreu had two solo shots and Peter Bourjos had a three-run blast for the Angels.