With a 5-3 win on Thursday over the Los Angeles Angels in the first contest of the final four-game series of the season, the Texas Rangers continued their hot winning streak to three consecutive games, and have clinched a coveted playoff spot in the process. However, the fight is far from over for Texas as the Angels are still well within reach of a Wild Card berth.
But let’s not forget that the Houston Astros are still in the hunt themselves, which makes their final regular season series with the Arizona Diamondbacks just as pivotal as the one going on in Arlington (you can check our preview for the Astros vs. D-backs series over here).
In the meantime, let’s look ahead at what we could expect from this pivotal AL West clash that will set the tone for the division race and the postseason landscape.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Los Angeles Angels vs. Texas Rangers Series Preview
*All games will be played at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, TX
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday, October 2, 8:05 PM ET
Jered Weaver (7-12, 4.76 ERA) vs. Martin Perez (3-6, 4.77 ERA)
Saturday, October 3, 1:05 PM ET
Hector Santiago (9-9, 3.52 ERA) vs. Colby Lewis (17-9, 4.53 ERA)
Saturday, October 4, 3:05 PM ET
Nick Tropeano (3-2, 3.82 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (12-8, 3.72 ERA)
Betting on the Los Angeles Angels
Why the Angels will win the series: C’mon, these are the Los Angeles Angels that we’re talking about; the same team that won the AL West last season on the strength of 98 wins. As long as the team still has 2014 AL MVP Mike Trout on its side, winning the last three games of the year to challenge for the final wild card berth is far from impossible.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Trout is hitting .346 with nine hits, four runs and a homer in his last 26 plate appearances to go with five walks. The 24-year-old sensation also favors his upcoming matchups against Texas’ next two starters. Trout is hitting .333 for his career against Martin Perez, and .393 versus Colby Lewis, including 11 RBIs and four home runs against the latter in 28 at-bats.
Why the Angels will lose the series: There’s simply too much ground left that Los Angeles has to cover to make the playoffs, with the Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins still in the mix for the final Wild Card slot. As such, uninspired play, especially coming off of a bad loss in the final series’ opener, could get the better of Los Angeles.
Furthermore, the Angels’ projected starters for the remainder of the schedule aren’t very promising. Jered Weaver is battling a right shoulder stiffness that forced him to cut his last start short (but a good one, before bowing out of the game), Hector Santiago has an ERA of 7.94 in just 11 1/3 innings of work over his last three starts, and Nick Tropeano is a wild card entrant in place of supposed final-game starter Matt Shoemaker (out due to a right forearm strain).
However, should Los Angeles be within striking distance of the final Wild Card spot come the season finale, it could have Garrett Richards (22 strikeouts to just five earned runs allowed in the past three games) start on just three days’ rest. But with that move, the Angels’ outlook for the lone Wild Card game could be in bigger jeopardy if the team decides to start their ace just to pull-off a last minute playoff berth on Saturday.
Betting on the Texas Rangers
Why the Rangers will win the series: Momentum and rejuvenated spirits will vault this feisty Texas Club, who are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and just a year removed from a dismal 95-loss season.
Adrian Beltre has been a beast in September by batting-in the second-most runs in the AL for the month, and continued his resurgence in his first October game from last night with a key three-run double in the bottom of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie with Los Angeles and put the Rangers up for good.
Let’s also not forget that Beltre – a four-time All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award winner – was part of Texas’ 2011 and 2012 World Series squads. His leadership and big-game experience will be of great value to the club to oust the pesky Angels from contention and end his team’s season on the highest of notes in preparation for the true battles ahead in the postseason.
Why the Rangers will lose the series: If we’re strictly just talking about this particular series, Texas’ 5-3 win on Thursday could act both as a blessing and a curse. The team might play complacently given that they’ve already secured a spot in the playoffs and that they need just one win or a Houston loss to secure the AL West crown.
To add, the Angels have really had Texas’ number this season. Even with yesterday’s win, The Rangers have a 6-10 head-to-head record against Los Angeles this 2015. And worst of all, they’re just 2-5 in those games that were played in Arlington.
Writer’s Prediction
The teams split the series, 2-2. Texas secures the AL West title, while Los Angeles narrowly misses out on the postseason as the Houston Astros take care of business on their end to clinch the final Wild Card spot.
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