Los Angeles @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2011 ) Texas 1, LA Angels 2

THE STORY: The Los Angeles Angels look to build on their current six-game winning streak when they begin a critical series against the Texas Rangers in a battle of the top two teams in the AL West. Inconsistent lefty Derek Holland starts for the Rangers against one of the Angels’ best, Dan Haren. Texas is 41-26 at home this season but lost the final three games of a four-game set at Arlington against the Red Sox this week and opens the three-game set just two games ahead of the surging Angels.

TV: 8:05 p.m. FSW, KXTA

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Dan Haren (13-6, 2.98 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Derek Holland (11-5, 4.42 ERA)

Haren is 4-6 in his career against the Rangers with a 3.90 ERA. The flame thrower continues to sport one of the game’s best strikeout to walk ratio (156-26) and has not lost since July 15. Haren has allowed three runs in each of his last two starts, winning once and taking a no-decision in the other. Opponents are hitting just .227 against the right-hander who gave up seven runs in four innings in his last outing against the Rangers.

After winning five straight decisions, Holland was hammered in his last start. Holland lasted just 3 1/3 innings in a 10-0 setback against the White Sox. It was not his shortest outing of the year either as when Holland has struggled it has usually been early in games. The enigmatic Holland has thrown four shutouts this season but has also allowed five or more runs in 10 of his 26 starts.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (74-58): Texas won the first five games of the season against the Red Sox but was hammered by Boston the past three nights. Boston scored 30 runs in the three games and Texas pitching allowed seven homers the past two nights. Texas leads the season series against the Angels 7-6 but is hardly brimming with confidence after being overmatched by Boston. On Thursday spot starter Andrew Miller dominated the Rangers limiting them to three hits in 6 1/3 innings while striking out six. Texas hasn’t lost more than three straight games since mid-June when it dropped a season-high five straight.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (71-59): The Angels were near dead a week ago. After losing the first three games of a four-game series in Anaheim against the Rangers, L.A. had fallen seven games behind Texas in the standings. But a home run by Mark Trumbo paced L.A. to a 2-1 win in the series finale and the Angels haven’t lost since. L.A. plans on using its top three pitchers in the crucial set bringing back Ervin Santana and Jered Weaver on short rest. None of the trio has excelled at Arlington, however. Santana is 4-6 with a 7.37 earned-run average and Weaver is 2-5 with a 4.09 ERA at Texas. Friday’s starter, Haren, is 3-2 with a 4.17 ERA there.

FINAL PITCH: L.A.’s Peter Bourjos is enjoying his time at the top of the lineup. Bourjos has hit in the first or second spot in nine of the last 11 games and is batting .462 (18 for 39) over that period with seven extra-base hits. He has raised his average 20 points to .285 in that span.