Los Angeles @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 6, 2013 ) LA Angels 8, Texas 4

A big-time pitching matchup highlights Sunday’s finale of the three-game series between the Los Angeles Angels and host Texas Rangers. Yu Darvish of the Rangers came within one out of hurling a perfect game in his season debut and Jered Weaver is coming off the first 20-win season of his spectacular career. Darvish retired the first 26 Houston Astros before Marwin Gonzalez broke it up with a sharply-hit single past Darvish.

Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton has been given a rude welcoming back to Texas and is 0-for-8 with four strikeouts as the teams split the first two games. Hamilton’s wife and children watched Saturday’s game from a private suite after enduring obscenities and insults in the stands during Friday’s opener. Albert Pujols homered twice as Los Angeles won Saturday. He didn’t hit his first home last season until May 6. Texas manager Ron Washington ordered Pujols walked intentionally three other times to get to the slumping Hamilton. “It depends on the situation and what the score is,” Washington said. “Hamilton’s not swinging the bat well. We had a left-hander out there so we went for the matchup. Every time we didn’t walk (Pujols), you saw what happened.”

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN2

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jered Weaver (0-0, 1.50 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Yu Darvish (1-0, 0.00)

Weaver took a no-decision in his season-opening start despite allowing only one run and two hits in six innings against the Cincinnati Reds. He went 4-1 against Texas last season but a rather high 4.70 ERA. Overall, Weaver is 13-7 with a 3.61 ERA in 30 career starts against the Rangers. Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus is batting .383 in 60 career at-bats against Weaver.

Darvish fanned a career-best 14 in his epic outing against the Astros in his 30th major-league start. “I don’t know if he can improve on near-perfection,” Washington said. “What I would like for him to do is keep us in the ballgame.” Darvish went 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA in six starts against the Angels last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. INF Alberto Callaspo is 6-for-14 against Darvish and OF Mike Trout is 6-for-17 with two homers.

2. Rangers closer Joe Nathan is one save away from having 300 for his career.

3. Los Angeles hit four homers Saturday with Mark Trumbo and Peter Bourjos also going deep.

PREDICTION: Rangers 2, Angels 1