Texas @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2011 ) Texas 8, LA Angels 9

THE STORY: After ending the Texas Rangers’ 12-game winning streak Wednesday, the host Los Angeles Angels look to win the rubber game of the three-game series when the teams meet on Thursday. The Angels pulled to within four games of first-place Texas with Wednesday’s 9-8 victory, which snapped the Rangers’ longest win streak since 1991.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, FSSW, Fox Sports West

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH C.J. Wilson (10-3, 3.11 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jared Weaver (12-4, 1.90 ERA)

Wilson has won six straight decisions over his last 10 starts, going 6-0 with a 2.80 ERA over that stretch. He is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts against the Angels this season. The Rangers are 16-5 in Wilson’s last 21 starts against teams from the American League West. Weaver has won six straight decisions, posting a 1.40 ERA in his last 10 starts. Weaver is 8-5 with a 3.38 ERA in 23 career starts against the Rangers, and the Angels are 8-1 in his last nine Thursday starts.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (56-42): Manager Ron Washington kept Nelson Cruz out of the Rangers’ lineup on Wednesday and gave David Murphy the start in right field. Like most everything Washington has done recently, it worked nearly to perfection. Murphy drove in two runs and hit his fifth homer, but Cruz went 0-for-2 after replacing Murphy late in the game. Cruz is hitting .166 with just one home run and four RBIs in his last 11 games. Shortstop Andres Blanco (back) will not be activated from the disabled list on Friday as originally planned. He is hoping to take batting practice this weekend, but he’s still at least a week from rejoining the Rangers. Elvis Andrus has started every game at shortstop since the All-Star break. Michael Young continued his hot hitting in July with two doubles and two RBIs on Wednesday. Young is batting .361 this month and .325 for the season. The Rangers have scored in the first inning in five of their six games since the break.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (52-46): In the Angels' seemingly endless search for solid middle relievers, the team purchased the contract of Horacio Ramirez from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday. Reliever Michael Kohn, who had a 7.30 ERA over 14 appearances, was sent to Salt Lake after giving up three home runs Tuesday. Ramirez last appeared in the majors in 2009, when he pitched in 19 games for the Royals. He’ll work in a long relief, but his time with the Angels could be short if the team acquires a reliever at the trade deadline. In addition to relief help, the Angels could benefit from another bat in the lineup. However, they haven’t indicated any interest in Carlos Beltran since they have a surplus of outfielders with Peter Bourjos, Mike Trout, Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter, along with Bobby Abreu at times. The Angels already have a $140 million payroll, so it’s unclear if owner Arte Moreno will be willing to take on another big contract at the deadline.

FINAL PITCH: The Angels are 11-5 in their last 16 home games against a left-handed starter.