Angels at Rangers
The Texas Rangers have posted a pair of two-run victories to start the series and look for another win on Saturday, when they host the Los Angeles Angels for the third contest of their four-game set. Rougned Odor drove in three runs in Friday's 6-4 triumph as Texas posted its 13th victory in 20 games.
Slugger Joey Gallo contributed a two-run double on Friday and is 3-for-8 with a home run and four RBIs in the series. Gallo has belted 10 homers in 87 at-bats since the All-Star break, and his 32 blasts this year rank fifth in the majors. Los Angeles won seven of nine games prior to its arrival in Texas and still doesn't know when All-Star Mike Trout (death in the family) will return to the team. Andrelton Simmons hit a two-run homer on Friday and is 4-for-12 over his last three games after being hitless in 14 at-bats in his previous four contests.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Andrew Heaney (7-7, 3.88 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Martin Perez (2-5, 6.71)
Heaney settled for a no-decision against San Diego in his last turn as he gave up two runs and four hits over 7 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old is 0-5 with a 4.97 ERA in 11 road starts this season and winless in his last 16 away from home to tie the dubious franchise record set by Rudy May (1965-66). Heaney is 1-2 with a 7.23 ERA in four career starts against Texas and 0-2 with a 10.57 ERA in two outings at Globe Life Park.
Perez was announced as the starter on Friday night as manager Jeff Banister considered using a reliever to start and work the first inning or two. The 27-year-old Perez was battered for seven runs and 11 hits in five innings of a loss to the New York Yankees in his last turn. Perez was torched for eight runs and nine hits over three frames in a loss to the Angels on April 10 to fall to 4-5 with a 4.10 ERA in 13 career appearance (12 starts).
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre (hamstring) missed his third straight game as the club still ponders whether or not to place him on the disabled list for the third time this season.
2. Los Angeles recalled RHPs Deck McGuire and Odrisamer Despaigne - the latter pitched four innings on Friday - from Triple-A Salt Lake and optioned RHPs Taylor Cole and Osmer Morales to the same affiliate.
3. Texas placed CF Delino DeShields (finger) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled OF Drew Robinson from Triple-A Round Rock.