Rangers at Angels
The Los Angeles Angels appear to have put their troubles at home behind them as they enter the middle contest of their three-game set against the visiting Texas Rangers on Saturday. Los Angeles dropped five in a row at Angel Stadium before winning its last two, including Friday's series-opening 6-0 triumph.
Ian Kinsler continued swinging a hot bat by belting a two-run homer and Albert Pujols also launched a two-run shot for the Angels, who returned home from a 4-6 road trip to see every member of the lineup record a hit. Kinsler is riding a five-game hitting streak during which he has gone 10-for-19 with three doubles, two homers and five RBIs. Texas fell to 2-3 on its seven-game road trip, scoring a total of two runs in the losses and 16 in the victories. Adrian Beltre was rested Friday after going 2-for-4 a day earlier in his return from a stint on the disabled list due to a strained left hamstring but figures to be in the lineup Saturday.
TV: 9:07 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Cole Hamels (3-5, 3.74 ERA) vs. Angels RH Garrett Richards (4-4, 3.67)
Hamels was unable to notch his third straight victory Sunday as he surrendered five runs on eight hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings of a loss to Kansas City. The 34-year-old from San Diego gave up a total of five runs over his previous four turns, and registered a season-low two strikeouts in the setback. Hamels has pitched well against the Angels in his career, going 4-2 with one complete game and a 2.82 ERA in 10 starts.
Richards' losing streak reached three starts on Sunday, when he yielded three runs on three hits and five walks in 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees in New York. The 30-year-old, who hails from Riverside, has posted a 2.51 ERA during his slide and a 2.39 mark over his last five turns overall. Richards is 9-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 18 starts and four relief appearances against Texas in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels 2B Zack Cozart (forearm) missed his third consecutive game Friday and is slated to undergo an MRI exam.
2. Texas RHP Tim Lincecum (finger) allowed an unearned run over two innings for Triple-A Round Rock in the latest outing of his rehab assignment, which expires on Tuesday.
3. Los Angeles optioned Akeel Morris to Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday and activated fellow RHP Oliver Drake, who was claimed off waivers from Cleveland a day earlier.