Rangers at Angels
The Los Angeles Angels look to build on a strong road trip and move a season-high five games over .500 on Monday when they begin a four-game series against the visiting Texas Rangers. Los Angeles has won nine of its last 11 to earn a virtual tie for the second American League wild card spot, while Texas sits close behind at 2 1/2 games behind the Angels and Minnesota.
Los Angeles capped a 7-2 road trip with Sunday’s 5-4 win over Baltimore as Cameron Maybin delivered a go-ahead pinch-hit single and Kole Calhoun homered for the third time in a week. The Angels homered 11 times in the weekend series against Baltimore, including two from Luis Valbuena, who has nine homers and 19 RBIs over his last 21 starts. Texas has won five of its last seven but was held scoreless until the ninth inning of Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The Rangers received a scare when third baseman Joey Gallo collided with reliever Matt Bush in the eighth inning, and both were placed into the concussion protocol after the game. Second baseman Rougned Odor belted a two-run homer in the ninth and is batting .387 with three homers and seven RBIs over his last eight games.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Cole Hamels (8-1, 3.48 ERA) vs. Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (1-3, 3.63)
Hamels earned the victory over Detroit last Wednesday despite allowing four runs on eight hits with five walks in six innings. The 33-year-old native of San Diego has won his last four decisions and owns a 6-1 mark with a 2.93 ERA in nine starts since the beginning of July. Andrelton Simmons is 3-for-28 against Hamels, who is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in seven career starts against the Angels - including 1-0 with a 0.61 ERA in two outings this season.
Skaggs will be activated from the bereavement list to make his fourth start since returning from disabled list after missing 85 games with an oblique strain. The 26-year-old took the loss at Washington last Tuesday after tossing five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Skaggs is 2-1 with a 5.46 ERA in six career starts against Texas and has struggled to contain Elvis Andrus, who is 6-for-12 with a home run against the Southern California native.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Angels are 39-27 against the Rangers since 2014.
2. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre has 3,022 career hits - one short of tying Hall-of-Famer Lou Brock for 25th place on the all-time list.
3. Angels RHP J.C. Ramirez (forearm) will undergo an MRI on Monday and is not expected to make his next scheduled start.