Texas @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2018 ) LA Angels 9, Texas 3

The Los Angeles Angels fell out of playoff contention weeks ago, but Mike Trout is playing like his team is in the middle of a thrilling pennant race. The two-time American League MVP looks to continue his hot streak Monday as the Angels begin a three-game series against the visiting Texas Rangers, who have lost four in a row and 10 of their last 13.

Andrew Heaney registered a career-high 12 strikeouts over seven innings and Kole Calhoun delivered an RBI single in Sunday’s 1-0 win as the Angels completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox. Trout went 2-for-4 and finished the series 8-for-11 with two homers and five RBIs for the Angels, who went 7-3 on their 10-game road trip. The Rangers are looking for their first win on their nine-game West Coast trip after losing three straight to Oakland over the weekend – including Sunday’s 7-3 defeat. Texas rookie Willie Calhoun has been limited by a chest cold but started in left field Sunday and went 0-for-3, while Delino DeShields reached base three times and recorded two stolen bases from the leadoff spot.

TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Mike Minor (11-7, 4.31 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jaime Barria (10-8, 3.30)

Minor is making his second straight start against the Angels after allowing two runs over five frames in a 4-2 victory on Tuesday. The 30-year-old native of Tennessee has been one of the top starters in the major leagues since the All-Star break, going 5-2 with a 2.88 ERA in seven turns. Zack Cozart is 4-for-12 with two homers against Minor, who is 1-0 with a 4.76 ERA in four career games (two starts) versus the Angels.

Barria is making his 23rd start of the season and third against Texas in the last three weeks. The 22-year-old rookie won his second straight turn on Wednesday, when he allowed two hits and three walks with five strikeouts in five scoreless innings against the Rangers. Jurickson Profar is 1-for-10 with three strikeouts against Barria, who has gone 4-1 with a stellar 1.82 ERA over his last six starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Angels OF-RHP Shohei Ohtani suffered a bruised right thigh on Saturday but served as the team’s designated hitter a day later and went 1-for-3 with a walk.

2. Texas rookie Adrian Sampson will start Tuesday in place of fellow RHP Bartolo Colon, who is being moved to the bullpen for the rest of the season.

3. Los Angeles INF David Fletcher has gone 12-for-29 with six RBIs in seven games against Texas this year.

PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Angels 2