Texas @ Los Angeles preview
Angel Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2012 ) Texas 7, LA Angels 3
The top two teams in the American League West prepare to lock horns as the second-place Los Angeles Angels host the division-leading Texas Rangers on Friday in the opener of their three-game series. The Angels, who trail the Rangers by six games, return home from a disappointing road trip during which they went 2-5. Los Angeles, which has won just five of its last 13 overall, lost two of three to the Yankees in New York before dropping three of four at Detroit.
Texas continues its eight-game road trip on which it took two of three in Seattle before splitting a two-game set in Oakland. The Rangers (55-36), who have won five of seven overall, trail the Yankees (57-35) by 1 1/2 games for the best record in the major leagues. Slugger Josh Hamilton has struggled since the All-Star break, going 3-for-18 with one home run and three RBIs in five games.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, TXA-21 (Texas), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Derek Holland (6-4, 4.57 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jered Weaver (11-1, 2.26)
Holland is coming off a superb outing at Seattle on July 13 in which he scattered four hits over 7 2/3 scoreless innings for his third win in four decisions. The 25-year-old has allowed three runs or less in four of his last five starts. Holland is 4-1 with a 2.58 ERA in six road outings this season.
Weaver has won six consecutive decisions since suffering his only loss of the year at Texas on May 13, when he was tagged for eight runs and 10 hits in just 3 1/3 innings. The All-Star yielded one earned run or less in six straight outings before surrendering five over seven frames in a no-decision at New York on Sunday. Weaver, who is 6-0 with a 0.58 ERA in seven home starts, owns a 9-7 record in 26 career meetings with the Rangers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels OF Mike Trout has scored at least one run in 11 consecutive games. The rookie is two contests shy of matching Jim Edmonds' franchise-record streak set in 1995.
2. Texas LHP Robbie Ross had his consecutive scoreless-inning streak snapped at 24 on Wednesday. It was the longest stretch by a Ranger since Darren O'Day went 26 1/3 frames without yielding a run.
3. Los Angeles leads the majors with 26 home runs this month.