Los Angeles @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2012 ) Texas 4, LA Angels 7

The Angels have had a golden opportunity to make up ground against the struggling Rangers, who lost two of three to Chicago at home over the weekend, but they've failed to take advantage, suffering back-to-back losses against Tampa Bay to remain five games back of Texas in the American League West. Los Angeles has a 5-4 edge head-to-head entering this week's four-game set, but four of its five victories have come at home. The Rangers took two of three at the Ballpark in Arlington back in May.

Both clubs have gotten solid starting pitching this season, ranking near the top of the American League in ERA, WHIP and several other categories, but Monday’s showdown features a pair of starters that have not found a rhythm in 2012. Ervin Santana has had a nightmarish year for the Angels, who will be facing Texas starter Roy Oswalt for the first time. Los Angeles could be without rookie standout Mike Trout, who was out of the lineup Sunday with a knee contusion. Trout leads the American League with a .350 batting average.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN (national), Fox Sports Houston (Texas), ESPN3.com

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Ervin Santana (4-10, 6.00 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Roy Oswalt (3-1, 5.22)

Few starters in baseball have struggled as much this season as Santana, who has given up five runs or more in six of his last nine starts. He retired just five batters in his last outing, a 9-2 loss to Texas on July 21 that saw him surrender six runs on eight hits, three of which were home runs. Santana is 12-10 with a 5.82 ERA in 25 lifetime starts against the Rangers.

Oswalt’s first American League season has been very much hit or miss, and the White Sox were responsible for the biggest miss, tagging the veteran right-hander for 11 runs (nine earned) and 13 hits in just 4 2/3 innings on July 3. Oswalt has been considerably better in his two starts since, yielding just two runs and eight hits in 12 innings of work. He is 2-0 with a 3.44 ERA at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas hitters are 108-for-351 (.308) with 18 home runs against Santana. 3B Adrian Beltre has taken the right-hander deep five times, while OF Nelson Cruz and DH Michael Young have three homers each.

2. Los Angeles 1B Albert Pujols is 26-for-86 (.302) against Oswalt with seven doubles, five homers and 13 RBIs. The rest of the Angels are a combined 5-for-24 against the longtime National Leaguer.

3. The Angels have won just five of Santana’s last 23 starts overall, but they are 9-2 in his last 11 starts when he is coming off an outing of fewer than four innings.