Los Angeles @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2011 ) LA Angels 7, Texas 11

THE STORY: Texas will try to give itself some more breathing room in a tight American League West race when it hosts the second of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday. The Angels had won six in a row to get within two games before the Rangers exploded for an 11-7 victory in Friday's opener. Nelson Cruz led the onslaught, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBIs, while David Murphy added a fifth-inning grand slam.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network (national), KCOP (Los Angeles), Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Angels RH Joel Piñeiro (5-6, 5.37) vs. Rangers LH C.J. Wilson (13-5, 3.08).

Piñeiro is winless since July 9, in part because he had been temporarily banished to the bullpen until returning Aug. 20 against Baltimore (6 IP, 9 H, 4 ER). He has allowed 34 runs in his last 27 1/3 innings, but did pitch three scoreless frames of relief against Texas on Aug. 15. Piñeiro is 8-5 with a 4.80 ERA in 29 career games (15 starts) against the Rangers; Ian Kinsler is 5-for-10 with a home run against him. Wilson has been outstanding of late, winning three in a row while allowing just three runs (two earned) in his last 19 2/3 innings. One of his three victories came at Los Angeles on Aug. 17 (7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER), and he gave up just four hits in his last start, throwing 6 2/3 shutout innings in a win over Boston. Wilson has 37 lifetime appearances (10 starts) against the Angels, going 5-4 with a 3.25 ERA. The Rangers have won Wilson's last five home starts against Los Angeles.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (75-58): Texas has struggled to get consistency from any starting pitcher other than Wilson, but the offense has steadily delivered despite a rash of injuries, ranking third in the majors with 662 runs and second with a .275 batting average. Michael Young (.338, 86 RBIs) is a sleeper in the MVP race, and Mike Napoli leads major league catchers with 22 home runs despite playing just 88 games. Napoli ranks second in the American League in at-bats per home run (13.0).

ABOUT THE ANGELS (71-60): Los Angeles has managed to stay in the hunt despite losing 24 one-run games and leading the American League in blown saves (21). The lone constant has been starting pitching — Jered Weaver (15-6, 2.03 ERA) is a leading Cy Young candidate, while Ervin Santana (9-9, 3.09) has been one of the hottest pitchers in recent weeks. A middling offense has gotten a lift this month from Peter Bourjos, who is 19-for-48 (.396) in his last 11 games.

FINAL PITCH: Texas is 27-13 against the American League West, while the Angels are 19-20. The Rangers are 8-6 against Los Angeles.