Angels at Rangers
The Los Angeles Angels lead the majors in runs scored (79), hits (128) and homers (20), and their offensive production likely won't be questioned by the Texas Rangers given the events of the last two days. Tied for the best 12-game start in franchise history, the Angels (9-3) have erupted for 19 runs and 31 hits against the Rangers (4-9) heading into Wednesday's series finale in Arlington, Texas.
Mike Trout belted a mammoth 441-foot homer to mark the second time he's gone deep in three outings and Albert Pujols recorded his second straight multi-hit performance and fourth during his seven-game hitting streak in Los Angeles' 11-1 romp over Texas on Tuesday. Pujols resides one RBI shy of tying Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (1,925) for seventh place on the all-time list, although he is just 2-for-12 versus Wednesday starter Matt Moore. While the Angels' 9-3 start is matched by the franchise's 1979 and 1982 teams, the reeling Rangers' 3-10 mark is their worst since the 2002 season. Adrian Beltre had two hits to improve to 9-for-20 during his five-game hitting streak while Nomar Mazara has recorded multi-hit performances in five of his last eight outings.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, KCOP (Los Angeles), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Jaime Barria (0-0, -.-- ERA) vs. Rangers LH Matt Moore (0-2, 11.05)
Signed by the Angels out of Panama at the tender age of 16, the now-21-year-old Barria is expected to be activated on Wednesday and make his major-league debut. He worked his way through High-A and Double-A before finishing with three starts in Triple-A Salt Lake last season in which he struck out 11 in 14 2/3 innings. "I thought this moment would come, just not so soon. I learned at each level. I threw innings across three different levels last year, and it went really well," said Barria, who boasts a low-90s fastball, a curveball and reportedly an above-average changeup.
Moore has limped out of the box by yielding 10 runs on 12 hits in pair of sub-par performances, with his four walks in 3 1/3 innings on Friday against Houston leaving plenty to be desired. The 28-year-old hopes to rebound when he faces the Angels, against whom he owns a 4-0 mark with a 1.78 ERA in five career outings. Trout is just 3-for-11 versus Moore, although Rene Rivera has gone deep twice among his three hits against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles C Martin Maldonado is 5-for-8 with four RBIs and two runs scored in the series.
2. Texas has lost all eight games in which an opponent has scored the first run.
3. Los Angeles 2B Zack Cozart has scored a run in six consecutive contests.