Jered Weaver (6-10, 4.94 ERA) and the Los Angeles Angels (68-66) meet Derek Holland (2-1, 2.82 ERA) and the Texas Rangers (70-63) in the second of a three-game division series at Angel Stadium. The Angels won the last game 5-2 and Los Angeles leads the series 1-0. The game starts at 9:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sep. 5 and will air on FSW and FSSW.
In his last start, Weaver pitched 6.0 innings, allowing eight runs, striking out two and walking four in a 9-2 loss to the Indians. Mike Trout (.297, 86 Rs, 33 HRs, 74 RBIs, 10 SBs) went 1 for 3 yesterday with two runs. The Rangers were victorious over the Orioles 6-0 the last time Holland pitched. He went 9.0 innings, allowing zero runs and striking out 11. Mitch Moreland (.286, 41 Rs, 18 HRs, 68 RBIs, 1 SB) went 1 for 3 yesterday.
Los Angeles is a slight -115 favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is eight runs. The Angels perform well as a favorite with a 50-29 record, but haven’t fared as well with the overall money line (-444). Over the last 10 games, they have a very good record when playing as the favorite (3-1). Los Angeles has averaged 4.5 runs per game during divisional play, higher than its season average of 4.0. The Angels rank third in the majors in extra base hits with 349. They typically aren’t overmatched by pitchers, ranking fifth in the AL with an average of only 7.1 strikeouts per game. Los Angeles’s pitching staff has fallen apart in the past 10 games. Its average runs allowed per game rose to 6.1 during that span, compared to its 4.1 season average. The Angels don’t give up many hits to opposing batters at Angel Stadium, ranking fifth in the AL with only 8.1 hits allowed per home game.
Moving on to the away team, the Rangers come into this game with a win percentage of .514 when playing as the underdog (54-51) and an overall money line of +2,345. Against teams in their division, they are 20-29 SU and have played poorly as the underdog with a 16-25 record. They have the fifth-lowest road ERA in the AL at 4.06.
The Angels have gotten the best of the Rangers in head-to-head matchups this season, going 9-4. The Angels will take on a left-hander (Holland) in this game and have a 19-16 record against left-handed starting pitchers this season. The right-handed Weaver will take the mound against the Rangers, who have a 47-38 record against righty starters this season.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAA, O/U – Over
Notes
Los Angeles earned its 11th shutout of the season in its last game. Texas has been shut out eight times this season.
Having scored zero runs 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 7-0 record in games where opponents scored that many runs.
When they are outhit, the Angels are 15-48. The Rangers have a 16-47 record when opponents outhit them.
Both falling in the top half of the league based on total home runs this season, Los Angeles ranks 11th with 140 homers and Texas is 13th with 137.
Ranking 14th, Los Angeles is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 8.18 per game. Texas ranks in the top 10 at sixth with 8.77.
Ranking 25th, Los Angeles is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.696). Texas ranks in the top 10 at ninth with an OPS of .732.
When the Rangers allow at least one home run, they are 35-47. When the Angels allow one or more homers, they have a 34-54 record.
