Los Angeles @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2010 ) Texas 2, LA Angels 1

Scott Kazmir was once viewed as a big-time prospect who would be dominating hitters for many years to come.

The 26-year-old left-hander is now facing a career crossroads as he makes his final start of the season for the Los Angeles Angels.

Kazmir takes a 6.03 earned-run average into Thursday’s start against the Texas Rangers, an ERA more fitting of a beer-league pitcher who snuck into a major-league clubhouse than a 2002 first-round pick destined for greatness.

Kazmir (9-15) has been hit hard most of the season and has lost 10 of his past 12 decisions. The Angels are losing patience with him and have indicated Kazmir is not guaranteed a spot in the starting rotation next season despite a $12 million salary in 2011.

The offseason plan is for Kazmir to spend much of the winter in Arizona working with pitching coach Mike Butcher in an attempt to recapture his form. As recently as 2007, Kazmir went 13-9 and struck out 239 batters for Tampa Bay.

Kazmir will look to end a frustrating season with a good outing against the Rangers, against which he is 0-2 this season with a 6.94 ERA. Kazmir’s career record against Texas is 6-3 with a 2.84 ERA in 12 starts.

Vladimir Guerrero is 8-for-16 against his former teammate and has hammered his former team this season with five homers and 14 RBIs in 60 at-bats. Guerrero needs one homer for the ninth 30-homer season of his career and the first since 2006.

The Rangers are eyeing the postseason and have moved left-hander Cliff Lee’s start up to Thursday so he’ll be well-rested for a Game 1 start in the American League Division Series.

Lee (12-9, 3.29 ERA) is 2-1 against the Angels this season with a 2.96 ERA in three starts. He has a 7-4 career mark and 3.21 ERA in 11 career starts against Los Angeles.

Lee lasted just five innings against Oakland in his last start after pitching eight-innings of one-run ball in previous outings against the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners.

Texas is also gearing up for the return of outfielder Josh Hamilton at some point in the season-ending four-game series with the Angels.

Hamilton, who leads the majors with a .361 batting average, has been sidelined since breaking two ribs on Sept. 4.

Outfielder David Murphy injured his groin Wednesday and his status will be updated prior to Thursday’s game.

The Angels moved into second place on Wednesday by finishing a three-game sweep of Oakland. Howie Kendrick had three hits and Torii Hunter singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning.