The Los Angeles Angels supplied the fireworks in the Fourth of July as they lit up the Texas Rangers in a 13-0 rout. The Halos now have the chance to complete the sweep over Texas this Sunday as they send left-hander CJ Wilson to face his old team. Meanwhile, the Rangers will counter with right-hander Colby Lewis, who’s coming off quite a successful month.
Read on as we preview this rubber match between two AL West rivals. Speaking of rivalries, click here for our preview of the sibling rivalry between Venus and Serena Williams, who will face off in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
[sc:MLBArticles ]
Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers Preview
Where: Globe Life Park, Arlington
When: Sunday, July 5, 7:05 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Angels (-108) at Texas Rangers (-102); total 8.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Los Angeles Angels
The Los Angeles Angels’ trip to Texas has been a godsend for their offense. After failing to score at least five runs in each of their previous 11 games, the Angels have broken out with 21 runs in the past two games against the Rangers to power back-to-back wins. The streaking Halos have now gone 6-1 in their last seven games.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Shortstop Erick Aybar has been the catalyst of the offense with eight hits in those two games. Meanwhile, Kole Calhoun and CJ Cron have combined for three home runs and 15 RBIs in the past week.
Superstars Mike Trout and Albert Pujols have combined to go just 8-of-53 (.186) in their last six games, but they will be glad to see Colby Lewis on the mound for the Rangers. Trout and Pujols have had a lot of success against Lewis, going a combined 15-of-39 (.384) lifetime against the righty with four home runs and 12 RBIs. Calhoun has also owned Lewis, going 8-of-16 with a homer and four RBIs.
Meanwhile, the erratic CJ Wilson will be on the mound for the Angels. In six June starts, the former Ranger lefty had three starts where he gave up five, six and seven earned runs, all resulting in Angels losses. But in his other three starts, he went seven, eight and six innings and gave up a total of two earned runs in three Angels wins.
The Texas Rangers’ starting pitching has failed them in their first two games against the Angels. After Chi Chi Gonzalez’s disastrous six-earned run outing in just 1.2 innings, Wandy Rodriguez didn’t fare much better with five earned runs on nine hits in five innings yesterday. Reliever Spencer Patton also didn’t help with six earned runs in just 0.2 innings as the Rangers were rocked, 13-0.
The Rangers, who’ve now lost five home games in a row, will need a strong outing from starter Colby Lewis to stop the bleeding. The 35-year old had his best month of the season in June, going 4-0 with a 3.29 ERA. However, he’ll almost certainly give up his share of runs. He served up at least three earned runs in four of those six June starts.
Lewis, who is 8-3 on the season, has also benefited from some very generous run support throughout the season. The Rangers offense is spotting him six runs per start, the third-highest total for any starter in MLB this year.
The Rangers offense has ground to a halt in the last four games, where they’ve produced a total of six runs. But that lineup will fancy its chances of bouncing back against ex-Ranger, CJ Wilson. The Angels are 1-4 in Wilson’s five starts at Texas, with an ugly 8.00 ERA. He’s also served up at least three walks in each of his last four starts in Globe Life Park.
Writer’s Prediction
The Angels (-108) get a decent start from Wilson, while Trout and Pujols power them to a 6-3 win.
