Los Angeles @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2018 ) LA Angels 2, Texas 4

Nomar Mazara claims he still is bothered by a sprained right thumb, but you'd never know it from the power surge he displayed over the weekend. Mazara has belted four home runs over his last three contests and hopes to continue the onslaught when the Texas Rangers host the Los Angeles Angels on Monday for the opener of their three-game series.

Mazara reached the 20-homer plateau for the third time in his three-season career as he launched two of Texas' six blasts in Sunday's 18-4 rout of Minnesota. The 23-year-old Dominican has collected seven RBIs during his homer binge for the Rangers, who went deep 11 times during the three-game set against the Twins. The Angels began their 10-game road trip by settling for a split of their four-game series in Houston after dropping a 4-2 decision on Sunday. Andrelton Simmons recorded one of Los Angeles' seven singles in the setback and is 8-for-21 over his last five contests.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Matt Shoemaker (1-0, 4.76 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Jeffrey Springs (0-0, 2.55)

Shoemaker will be activated from the disabled list to make his second start of the year after missing five months with forearm issues. The 31-year-old native of Michigan's lone outing of 2018 took place on March 31, when he notched a victory at Oakland after giving up three runs on four hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings. Shoemaker has made six career starts against Texas, going 4-2 despite posting a 5.68 ERA.

Springs will make his first career start as he receives the honor in the increasingly popular "opener" strategy, with right-hander Ariel Jurado expected to take the reins from him. The 25-year-old Springs, a rookie from North Carolina, has yielded five runs and 16 hits - three homers - with nine walks and 18 strikeouts over 17 2/3 innings in 10 relief appearances during his first major-league season. Springs went 4-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 33 combined efforts out of the bullpen with Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock this year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers INF Jurickson Profar finished a triple shy of the cycle on Sunday, going 4-for-5 to match the hits total from his previous six games.

2. Los Angeles OF Justin Upton sat out the series finale against Houston and could miss the entire set versus Texas due to the concussion he suffered when hitting his head on the ground while sliding to avoid a collision with teammate Simmons on Saturday.

3. Texas set a club record Sunday as 13 of its 19 hits went for extra bases.

PREDICTION: Angels 6, Rangers 4