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Series Preview: Rangers at Angels

Posted on July 6th, 2009 11:26am by Ryan Jones
Filed under Baseball, Series preview, Texas Rangers

It’s pretty simple: come Wednesday night, somebody will have first place all to themselves.

The Rangers and the Angels are tied atop the AL West after both teams won Saturday and Sunday, and whoever gets the best of the three-game series in Anaheim that gets underway tonight will have at least a one game lead to brag about as the All-Star break nears.

Tonight’s game would seem to be one the Rangers have a great chance to win. They’ve won five straight, the offense has broken out in a big way, and Kevin Millwood takes the mound with his 2.80 ERA and a chip on his shoulder from being left off the AL All-Star roster. The only problem is the other guy on the mound probably feels snubbed too.

The Angels won’t go unrepresented, however, and not just because every team has to have at least one player on the roster. Torii Hunter and Brian Fuentes will make the trip to St. Louis next week. The latter’s selection comes as somewhat of a surprise after Fuentes got off to a rocky start to the season, but the Angels’ closer has converted 19 of his last 20 save attempts and has been a strength in an otherwise weak bullpen.

Meanwhile, the Angels seem to be returning to form with the kind of slump-busting and injury-healing that should make the AL West race very interesting. Howie Kendrick is back after a trip to the minors to refine his swing. Vladimir Guerrero is back in the field after being relegated to DH much of the season. Ervin Santana is back from his second stint on the DL, but got roughed up by the Orioles Friday. And if all continues to go well in L.A., the Angels won’t be back as buyers at the trade deadline.

About the only thing off for the Angels right now is that their pitchers are giving up stolen bases like candy for Lent. And that’s something Nolan Ryan just wouldn’t stand for.

2 Comments to “Series Preview: Rangers at Angels”

Tom B @ July 6th, 2009 at 11:43 am

If your Big Dogs can’t get up for this one then they might as well stay under the porch.
You just live for these head to head matchups where the winner can see some progress in separation.
VegasbB @ July 6th, 2009 at 1:03 pm

Weavers e r a is beginning to explode, but he can’t be as bad as that last outing. We will at least have a fighting chance tonight. Tomorrow with Nippert, allow me to go on record now. A minimum of six walks, no matter how long he is on the mound. Has always been a nibbler in the majors, and it will not work against the Angels.