In the third of a four-game series between the Texas Rangers (87-73) and the Los Angeles Angels (84-76) at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Colby Lewis (17-9, 4.53 ERA) and Hector Santiago (9-9, 3.52 ERA) take the mound. The Angels won the last game 2-1 and the series is currently tied 1-1. The game starts at 1:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 3 and will air on FOX.
In his most recent outing, Lewis pitched 4.2 innings, giving up six runs, striking out four and walking one in a 7-4 loss to the Tigers. Shin-soo Choo (.276, 92 Rs, 22 HRs, 80 RBIs, 4 SBs) played well again yesterday, going 2 for 4 with one run, one home run, and one RBI. The Angels were unsuccessful the last time Santiago pitched. He tossed 5.2 innings, allowing three runs (one unearned), striking out four and walking two in a 5-4 loss to the Athletics. Albert Pujols (.242, 83 Rs, 39 HRs, 93 RBIs, 5 SBs) has been hitting the ball well, going 2 for 4 yesterday with one RBI.
The odds are even for this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is currently unavailable. The Rangers have a SU record of 35-39 against teams in their division. They typically aren’t overmatched by pitchers, ranking fifth in the AL with an average of only 7.0 strikeouts per home game.
Against divisional opponents, the Angels are 43-31 SU. Opposing pitchers have routinely struggled to strike out the Los Angeles batters, who rank fourth in the AL with 7.1 strikeouts per game.
The Angels have gotten the better of the Rangers in head-to-head matchups this season, going 11-6. The Rangers will take on a left-hander (Santiago) in this game and have a 34-29 record against left-handed starting pitchers this season. Taking the hill against the Angels will be the right-hander Lewis. They sport a 59-55 record against righties.
Predictions: SU Winner – Tex
Notes
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas’s last 6 games.
Texas is 13-6 SU in its last 19 games.
Texas is 14-5 SU in its last 19 games at home.
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Texas’s last 5 games when playing LA Angels.
Texas is 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing LA Angels.
Texas is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against LA Angels.
The Rangers hold a 35-39 record this season against teams in the AL West Division. The Angels’ record in these matchups is 43-31.
Los Angeles recorded at least two errors for the 18th time this season.
Having scored one run in their last game, the Rangers are going to have to up their game if they want to win this matchup. The Angels have a 27-0 record in games where opponents scored that many runs or fewer.
When they are outhit, the Angels are 17-57. The Rangers have a 19-56 record when opponents outhit them.
Texas ranks in the top half of the league at 12th when it comes to home runs, hitting 168 this season. Los Angeles ranks in the top 10 at 10th with 173.
Ranking 15th, Los Angeles is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.19 per game. Texas ranks in the top five at fifth with 8.72.
Ranking 25th, Los Angeles is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.703). Texas ranks in the top 10 at ninth with an OPS of .739.
The Angels are 48-60 when they allow at least one home run. The Rangers perform similarly when they allow one or more homers with a 44-55 record.
