In the second of a three-game series between the Texas Rangers (41-40) and the Los Angeles Angels (41-40) at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Wandy Rodriguez (5-3, 3.91 ERA) and Hector Santiago (4-4, 2.58 ERA) get the start. The Angels won the last game 8-2 and Los Angeles leads the series 1-0. The game gets underway at 9:05 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jul. 4 and will air on FSN-W, FSN-SW and MLB Net.
In his most recent outing, Rodriguez pitched 5.0 innings, giving up one run, striking out seven and walking two in an 8-1 victory over the Orioles. Prince Fielder (.347, 40 Rs, 12 HRs, 49 RBIs) played well again yesterday, going 2 for 4 with one run. In his career against the Rangers, Santiago is 4-2 with a 3.75 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts. Mike Trout (.303, 58 Rs, 21 HRs, 44 RBIs, 9 SBs) went 1 for 4 yesterday with one run.
Texas, a +110 underdog, will look to capitalize at home against Los Angeles. The teams combine to set the Over/Under (O/U) at nine runs. When playing as the underdog, the Rangers have a 36-34 record and overall money line at +1,574. They have not performed well against their division, earning an SU record of 11-20 and a 10-17 record when they were the underdog. Texas has averaged 3.7 runs per game during divisional play, lower than its season average of 4.3. Texas’s pitchers struggle within their division. The Rangers have given up an average of 4.8 runs to intra-division opponents, well over their defense’s season average of 4.2.
Switching to the opposing bench, the Angels come into this game with a win percentage of .556 when playing as the favorite (25-20) and an overall money line of -53. Against fellow AL West members, they are 22-16 SU and have played well as the favorite with a 15-9 record. The Angels will be looking to pick it up in this one after recent offensive struggles. In their 10 most recent games, Los Angeles’s run production has dropped to 2.6 runs per game, compared to 4.3 for the duration of the season. Opposing pitchers have routinely struggled to strike out the Los Angeles batters, who rank fourth in the AL with 7.1 strikeouts per road game. Switching gears to Los Angeles’s pitching staff, they have a WHIP of 1.20 on the year, good for fifth in the league.
The Angels had the upper hand against the Rangers in their previous seven games this season, earning a 5-2 record. This game will feature Santiago (LHP) on the mound against the Rangers, who have a 14-16 record when they take on a left-handed starter. Taking the hill against the Angels will be the left-hander Rodriguez. Southpaw starters haven’t been a big issue for them as they sport an 11-6 record.
Predictions: SU Winner – LAA, O/U – Over
Notes
Texas has won 42% (15-21) of its games when leading after 7 innings. However, Los Angeles has won 62% (21-13) of its games when taking a late lead.
The Rangers managed to give up four walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Angels who are coming in with a 17-7 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
When they are outhit, the Rangers are 8-32. The Angels have a 9-26 record when opponents outhit them.
Both falling in the top 10 of the league based on total home runs this season, Texas ranks seventh with 88 homers and Los Angeles is ninth with 81.
Ranking 14th, Los Angeles is in the top half of the league in hits, notching 7.96 per game. Texas ranks in the top 10 at eighth with 8.50.
Ranking 22nd, Los Angeles is near the bottom of the league for its on-base plus slugging percentage (.688). Texas ranks in the bottom half at 16th with an OPS of .716.
The Angels are 20-31 when they allow at least one home run. Texas has the same record when allowing one or more homers.
