The Los Angeles Angels will open up their second series of a 13-game homestand against the Texas Rangers on Monday, looking to build on a solid start to the second half of the season.
This series is incredibly important for the Angels – they sit just five games back of a wild card spot with three games to go until the trade deadline, with many crucial decisions to make in such a short time frame.
TEAM PREVIEW:
Angels: Los Angeles (51-55) is coming off a series split with the Seattle Mariners in one of their most crucial series to date this season. With the deadline set for 3 P.M. PST Thursday, their series against Texas could be the last of some players in an Angels uniform, given if the team decides to sell their expiring contracts.
The Angels have a handful of veterans on expiring contracts. Infielders Yoán Moncada and Luis Rengifo offer switch-hitting versatility. Closer Kenley Jansen is having a resurgence season, while Tyler Anderson and Kyle Hendricks could offer length to a contender lacking starting pitching.
The team could end up buying in the end, though that may weigh heavily on their performance as the series opens. With that on the table, the Angels are making an interesting decision with Monday’s starter.
RHP Jack Kochanowicz will open the series on the mound, making his return to the Angels rotation after making just one start in a brief Triple-A stint. His last appearance was on July 10, where he fortuitously started against the Rangers at home and struggled mightily. He allowed eight earned runs in just 2.2 innings of work.
Tasked with slowing down a red-hot Rangers ballclub, it won’t be easy for the Angels to make a statement to not sell with such limited time before the deadline.
Rangers: Texas (56-50) has finally caught the fire they have been looking for all season. They enter the series riding a six-game winning streak, tied for a season-high, and are winners of 11 of their last 13 games.
They are lined up to throw their strongest starting pitchers against the Angels – ace Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, who has silently had a very strong season. Both pitchers faced the Angels in their previous matchup earlier this month, faring well.
The Angels pitchers will face a tall task in trying to limit damage from the bat of Corey Seager. Seager has been on a tear in the month of July, while swatting two homers and hitting .571 in the Rangers’ four-game set at Angel Stadium earlier this month.
In two series so far this season, the Rangers have bested the Angels in five of seven games. They too may be busy too with the trade deadline this week, though with a different outlook that we may see from the Angels’ stance.
PROBABLE PITCHERS:
MONDAY:
TEX: RHP Jacob deGrom (10-2, 2.28 ERA, 118.1 IP, 122 K’s)
LAA: RHP Jack Kochanowicz (3-9, 6.03 ERA, 94 IP, 65 K’s)
TUESDAY:
TEX: LHP Patrick Corbin (6-7, 3.78 ERA, 104.2 IP, 87 K’s)
LAA: LHP Yusei Kikuchi (4-7, 3.23 ERA, 122.2 IP, 127 K’s)
WEDNESDAY:
TEX: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (8-3, 1.50 ERA, 96 IP, 101 K’s)
LAA: RHP José Soriano (7-7, 3.79 ERA, 126 IP, 108 K’s)