Hector Santiago (7-9, 3.37 ERA) and Colby Lewis (14-7, 4.50 ERA) are on the hill in the last of a three-game series between the Los Angeles Angels (68-67) and the Texas Rangers (71-63) at Angel Stadium. The Rangers won the last game 2-1 and the series is currently tied 1-1. Action begins at 3:35 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sep. 6 and can be seen on FSW and FSSW.
Santiago pitched 2.2 innings in his last outing, surrendering five runs, striking out four and walking three in an 11-5 defeat to the Athletics. Mike Trout (.297, 87 Rs, 33 HRs, 74 RBIs, 10 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run. Lewis went 5.2 innings, surrendering five runs (one unearned), striking out two and walking two in a 7-0 defeat to the Padres in his most recent start. Mitch Moreland (.289, 41 Rs, 18 HRs, 68 RBIs, 1 SB) has been successful at the plate for the Rangers, going 2 for 3 yesterday.
Los Angeles is a -126 favorite against Texas and the Over/Under (O/U) for this game is sitting at eight runs. Though the Angels have had a tough season in terms of their overall money line (-444), they have done fairly well as a favorite with a record of 50-29. Los Angeles is unbeaten as the favorite and has a 5-5 SU record in its last ten outings. The Angels have seen an uptick in scoring against teams inside their division, averaging 4.5 runs per game. They average 4.0 runs per game on the season. The Angels are one of the best in the MLB in terms of extra base hits with 350. Los Angeles’s batters do not strike out very often, with only 7.1 per game. As for the pitchers, the Angels are the fifth-best team in the AL at limiting hits during home games, allowing only 8.1 hits per game to their opponents this season.
In games where it is the underdog, Texas has a 54-51 record and an overall money line of +2,345. They have played poorly as the underdog with a 16-26 record against AL West opponents, and a 6-4 record SU. The Rangers allow 4.6 runs per game, but does worse whenever another team from the AL West Division is on the schedule. They bring that runs allowed average up to 5.2 against division foes.
The Angels lead the season series, 9-5. The Angels have a 48-50 record against right-handed starting pitchers on the year, which is what they’ll be facing when Lewis takes the mound. Santiago (LHP) will be on the hill against the Rangers, who have a 23-24 record against left-handed starting pitchers.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAA, O/U – Over
Notes
The Rangers won their last game by a one-run margin. In games decided by one run, the Angels are 23-16. The Rangers are 25-20 in close games this season.
Having scored one run in their last game, the Angels are going to have to up their game if they want to win this matchup. The Rangers have a 26-1 record in games where opponents scored that many runs or fewer.
When they are outhit, the Angels are 15-49. The Rangers have a 16-47 record when opponents outhit them.
Los Angeles and Texas both rank in the top half of the league in home runs. Los Angeles sits at 12th with 140 home runs this season and Texas ranks 13th with 137.
Ranking 14th, Los Angeles is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.17 per game. Texas ranks in the top 10 at seventh with 8.75.
Ranking 25th, Los Angeles is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.693). Texas ranks in the top half at 11th with an OPS of .731.
The Rangers are 35-47 in games where they allow one or more home runs. The Angels are 34-54 when they allow at least one homer.
