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Series Preview: Rangers vs. Angels

It’s about as simple as this: if the Rangers can’t manage a sweep this weekend, they’ll need a flat out miracle to sneak into the postseason. And if they manage any less than taking two of three, even a Met-like collapse from the Angels wouldn’t be enough. So to say this is the “biggest series of the year” is not only unnecessary at this point; it’s also an understatement.

The struggles have been well-documented — four straight losses while plating only one run against mediocre competition. It’s been so bad that Brett Tomko, who had all of one shutout in nearly 1800 career innings prior to Monday, was able to blank the Rangers while feeling the effects of nerve damage that will keep him out the rest of the year. Even for a team that’s struggled at the plate all year, it’s been surprisingly difficult to watch.

But the Angels have faltered of late as well. Before a comeback win last night in Boston, LAA had lost four of five, including a controversial 9-8 loss in Fenway on Wednesday that left the Angels steaming and several coaches possibly facing disciplinary actions. And while Thursday’s victory has slightly quelled concerns for the time being, there’s still plenting of complaining and questioning and strategizing going on, leaving the Angels faithful to ask one question.

What would Darin Erstad do?

The pitching match ups don’t bode particularly well for the Rangers, starting tonight with old foe and Texas native Scott Kazmir. While with Tampa Bay earlier this year, Kazmir was great against the Rangers (2.92 ERA; 1.05 WHIP) and completely awful against everyone else (6.29 ERA; 1.60 WHIP). Since joining the Angels, Kazmir has looked more like his old self, going 19.1 innings in three starts while posting a 1.86 ERA. The only head scratching statistic for him with his new team? Kazmir’s 5.92 ERA in Tampa earned him an 8-7 record, but he’s 0-1 in Los Angeles.

Texas will see Jered Weaver in game two, a pitcher they’ve actually hit well despite his solid season. In four starts against the Rangers, Weaver was knocked around for 16 runs in 27.2 innings, with most of the damage — 10 runs in 13.1 innings — coming in Arlington. Weaver will also have the task of facing Texas’ toughest starter, righty Scott Feldman.

The finale will be a rematch of one of the happier afternoons in recent Ranger memory, when Derek Holland shut out the Angels in Anaheim to pull Texas within 3.5 games in the West. Holland will take the mound again for the Rangers, albeit with quite a few more question marks about his recent performances. And again, Holland will have to face the tough veteran John Lackey, who’s been back to form as the Angel’s ace since late August. In his last four starts — including two complete games — Lackey is averaging 8.4 innings per start and has an immaculate 0.80 ERA. The Rangers might take solace in learning of Lackey’s 7.15 season ERA against Texas, but unless the bats wake up, it won’t make a difference.