Rangers vs. Angels Preview
LOS ANGELES (AP) – The AL West crown obviously won’t be decided this week, but both the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels are looking to make a statement.
The first-place Rangers try to extend their winning streak to 12 games while the Angels hope to cut into Texas’ lead as the clubs open their series in Anaheim on Tuesday night.
According to MLB odds and oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog have made the Rangers -130 money line favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Angels. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 75% of more than 105 bets for this game have been placed on the Angels +122.
The Rangers (55-41) have widened their division lead over Los Angeles (51-45) from one game at the All-Star break to its current four. These two teams have accounted for six of the last seven AL West titles.
“It will be fun,” Michael Young told the Rangers’ official website of this week’s series. “Big games are always fun. That’s what we play for. Anything that’s a challenge we look forward to doing.”
These teams split their first six meetings of the season – all in Texas – but the Rangers weren’t at full strength. Reigning AL MVP Josh Hamilton missed both series while recovering from a right shoulder fracture.
Hamilton has been Texas’ top run producer during its 11-game winning streak, driving in 12. Adrian Beltre has chipped in with four homers and 10 RBIs, while Ian Kinsler is batting .326 with three homers, six doubles and 10 runs scored.
The Rangers, who defeated Seattle 3-1 on Sunday, also won 11 in a row last season, but haven’t reeled off 12 consecutive victories since a franchise-record 14-game run in 1991.
The Angels won 14 of 17 immediately before the break, but dropped three of four to Oakland over the weekend.
All-Star Howie Kendrick went 1 for 12 with an RBI versus the Athletics, while Torii Hunter went 0 for 15. Los Angeles batted .185 and totaled 11 runs in the Oakland series.
“When you look at our last 35 games or so we’ve been playing good baseball,” manager Mike Scioscia said after Sunday’s 9-1 loss. “We were not good on the offensive end this series and we need to work on that.”
It could be tough for the Angels to solve those woes against a Texas pitching staff that has yielded two runs in its last 47 innings.
“This whole streak we’re on right now is really because of what they have done,” Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland said.
Moreland and his teammates will take the field in the opener behind Alexi Ogando (9-3, 2.92 ERA), who retired the only two batters he faced in the All-Star game.
The right-hander defeated Baltimore in his last start July 6, allowing three runs and four hits in seven innings of Texas’ 13-5 victory.
Ogando also won his only career start against the Angels on May 13, yielding one run and five hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 4-1 win.
Los Angeles counters with rookie Tyler Chatwood (5-5, 3.62), who is expected to be called up from the minors to make his first appearance against the Rangers.
Chatwood was sent down to Triple-A Salt Lake after permitting two unearned runs, four hits and five walks in 5 1-3 innings of a 5-4 loss to Detroit on July 6. He didn’t receive a decision.
His lone start for the Bees on Thursday wasn’t particularly encouraging, as he gave up two runs, four hits and five walks in three innings.
Control has been an ongoing problem for the 21-year-old right-hander, who is averaging 4.7 walks per nine innings – second-most in the majors.
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