Texas @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2011 ) Texas 4, LA Angels 3

THE STORY: The remaining two games are now meaningless for the Los Angeles Angels after the Texas Rangers eliminated them from playoff consideration on Monday. Tuesday’s game is now much more important for the Rangers, who are one game ahead of the Detroit Tigers for the second-best record in the American League and home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. Detroit holds the tiebreaker edge over Texas, which has won four straight games and 12 of its last 14. The Angels collapsed down the stretch with seven losses in their past 11 games to miss the playoffs for the second straight season.

10:05 p.m. ET, FSH (Texas), FSW (Los Angeles).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Colby Lewis (13-10, 4.45 ERA) vs. Angels RH Ervin Santana (11-12, 3.38 ERA)

Lewis will be part of Texas’ four-man starting rotation for the postseason. He received a no-decision against Oakland in his last outing when he gave up three runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings. Lewis is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts against the Angels this season. He is 3-3 with a 4.62 ERA in 12 career appearances (10 starts) against Los Angeles. Torii Hunter is just 2-for-16 against Lewis.

Santana has lost three straight decisions and is winless since Sept. 1. He wasn’t involved in the decision against Toronto in his last start when he allowed two runs and six hits in six innings. Santana is 1-2 with a 5.96 ERA in four 2011 starts against Texas. He is 12-9 with a 5.53 ERA in 24 career starts against the Rangers and has allowed 30 homers in 153 innings. Adrian Beltre has four homers off Santana and Nelson Cruz and Michael Young have each hit three.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (94-66): Texas needs one more victory to match the club record of 95 wins set in 1999. Beltre hit a two-run homer in Monday’s 4-3 victory and Elvis Andrus matched a career-high with four hits. Beltre has belted 11 homers in his last 14 games and has 31 homers on the season. Young drove in his 105th run and is batting .351 with 13 RBIs in 74 career at-bats against Santana. Ian Kinsler also hits Santana well with a .383 average in 47 career at-bats. Former Angel Mike Napoli struck out three times in four hitless at-bats but is still batting .413 in September.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (86-74): Rookie of the Year candidate Mark Trumbo is done for the season due to a stress fracture in his right foot. Trumbo has been bothered by pain since mid-August and tests done Monday found the fracture. Trumbo finished his campaign with a team-best 29 homers, two shy of Tim Salmon’s rookie club record. He also leads the team with 87 RBIs. Erick Aybar had two hits Monday and stole a base to become the first Angels shortstop to steal 30 bases. Torii Hunter has 19 career homers against Texas. He has 23 homers this season, with 15 coming at home.

FINAL PITCH: Monday’s victory improved Texas’ record to 38-17 against AL West foes. The Angels are 11 games worse at 27-28.