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Rangers, Angels End Key AL West Series
‘How the West Was Won’ could be determined Sunday night when the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels conclude their key AL West showdown.
ESPN will have the national broadcast from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington at 8:00 p.m. (ET).
Los Angeles (71-60) came into this series riding a 6-game winning streak (all at home) and sitting just two games behind Texas in the division. However, the normally reliable Dan Haren got roughed up Friday and the team fell behind 11-0 before eventually losing 11-7.
Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia is not fooling around this series. He announced even before Friday’s game that Ervin Santana and Jered Weaver would pitch Saturday and Sunday respectively, each on short rest for the first time in their careers.
The Saturday night game is still pending with Santana opposed by C.J. Wilson in a great duel. Texas was a 155 favorite on the Don Best odds screen.
Weaver (15-6, 2.03 ERA) has the best ERA in the AL, but will probably lose the Cy Young to Detroit’s Justin Verlander. Weaver just signed an extension, spurning the advice of agent Scott Boras, and threw seven shutout innings versus the White Sox last Wednesday (8-0 win) after inking the deal.
The 28-year-old right-hander has lost his last two road starts. He allowed eight earned runs over 4 2/3 innings at Toronto on August 13 (11-2 loss). Weaver surrendered three earned runs over 6 2/3 innings at Detroit on July 31, but was outdueled by Verlander in a 3-2 loss. He’s 8-5 with a 2.60 ERA overall this year on the road.
The Angels are 3-1 in Weaver’s four starts against the Rangers this year (1.86 ERA). They split the two in Texas, with Weaver allowing a combined five earned runs over 15 innings (3.00 ERA).
The Rangers (75-58) needed that Friday win and not just to build their division cushion to three games. They were reeling after losing three straight to Boston (combined score 30-7) after winning that series opener 4-0 last Monday.
Colby Lewis (11-9, 4.07 ERA) is coming off one of his worst outings this year, seven earned runs over six innings against Boston last Tuesday at home. He had pitched well his previous six home starts (3.32 ERA), with Texas winning four, but his home ERA on the year is just 5.56.
The ‘over’ is 10-3 in Lewis’ last 13 home starts.
The 32-year-old right-hander pitched a beauty at the Angels on August 18, throwing seven scoreless on just four hits. He left the game with a lead, outdueling Weaver, but reliever Mike Adams blew the game in the ninth inning.
Lewis also faced the Angels at home in April, allowing four earned runs over five innings in a 15-4 defeat, the bullpen imploding in that one.
Texas is 0-4 in his four starts against the Angels since coming back from Japan last year, even with his combined ERA just 3.00.
Texas is 8-6 against Los Angeles this year, 4-3 at home after splitting six games in April and May.
The Angels are 33-32 away this year (+1.5 units against the betting money line). Their second-half road record is just 9-12.
The ‘over’ is 5-1 in L.A.’s last six games, scoring 7.33 runs per game. However, three of those games were beating up on the woeful Baltimore staff at home.
Texas is 41-26 at home, but it only translates into +.8 units. The second-half home mark is a pedestrian 10-8.
Jim Wolf will call balls and strikes. The Rangers are 16-5 the last 21 times he’s been behind home plate. The ‘over’ is 11-2-3 in his last 16 overall behind the dish.
Weather will be very hot, around 100 degrees at first pitch. Texas is off Monday before continuing its 10-game homestand Tuesday against Tampa. The Angels have to fly all the way to Seattle for a Monday contest.
‘How the West Was Won’ could be determined Sunday night when the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels conclude their key AL West showdown.
ESPN will have the national broadcast from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington at 8:00 p.m. (ET).
Los Angeles (71-60) came into this series riding a 6-game winning streak (all at home) and sitting just two games behind Texas in the division. However, the normally reliable Dan Haren got roughed up Friday and the team fell behind 11-0 before eventually losing 11-7.
Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia is not fooling around this series. He announced even before Friday’s game that Ervin Santana and Jered Weaver would pitch Saturday and Sunday respectively, each on short rest for the first time in their careers.
The Saturday night game is still pending with Santana opposed by C.J. Wilson in a great duel. Texas was a 155 favorite on the Don Best odds screen.
Weaver (15-6, 2.03 ERA) has the best ERA in the AL, but will probably lose the Cy Young to Detroit’s Justin Verlander. Weaver just signed an extension, spurning the advice of agent Scott Boras, and threw seven shutout innings versus the White Sox last Wednesday (8-0 win) after inking the deal.
The 28-year-old right-hander has lost his last two road starts. He allowed eight earned runs over 4 2/3 innings at Toronto on August 13 (11-2 loss). Weaver surrendered three earned runs over 6 2/3 innings at Detroit on July 31, but was outdueled by Verlander in a 3-2 loss. He’s 8-5 with a 2.60 ERA overall this year on the road.
The Angels are 3-1 in Weaver’s four starts against the Rangers this year (1.86 ERA). They split the two in Texas, with Weaver allowing a combined five earned runs over 15 innings (3.00 ERA).
The Rangers (75-58) needed that Friday win and not just to build their division cushion to three games. They were reeling after losing three straight to Boston (combined score 30-7) after winning that series opener 4-0 last Monday.
Colby Lewis (11-9, 4.07 ERA) is coming off one of his worst outings this year, seven earned runs over six innings against Boston last Tuesday at home. He had pitched well his previous six home starts (3.32 ERA), with Texas winning four, but his home ERA on the year is just 5.56.
The ‘over’ is 10-3 in Lewis’ last 13 home starts.
The 32-year-old right-hander pitched a beauty at the Angels on August 18, throwing seven scoreless on just four hits. He left the game with a lead, outdueling Weaver, but reliever Mike Adams blew the game in the ninth inning.
Lewis also faced the Angels at home in April, allowing four earned runs over five innings in a 15-4 defeat, the bullpen imploding in that one.
Texas is 0-4 in his four starts against the Angels since coming back from Japan last year, even with his combined ERA just 3.00.
Texas is 8-6 against Los Angeles this year, 4-3 at home after splitting six games in April and May.
The Angels are 33-32 away this year (+1.5 units against the betting money line). Their second-half road record is just 9-12.
The ‘over’ is 5-1 in L.A.’s last six games, scoring 7.33 runs per game. However, three of those games were beating up on the woeful Baltimore staff at home.
Texas is 41-26 at home, but it only translates into +.8 units. The second-half home mark is a pedestrian 10-8.
Jim Wolf will call balls and strikes. The Rangers are 16-5 the last 21 times he’s been behind home plate. The ‘over’ is 11-2-3 in his last 16 overall behind the dish.
Weather will be very hot, around 100 degrees at first pitch. Texas is off Monday before continuing its 10-game homestand Tuesday against Tampa. The Angels have to fly all the way to Seattle for a Monday contest.
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