The Texas Rangers (41-23) and their league-best lineup are set to host the Los Angeles Angels (36-31) at Globe Life Field on Monday for the first of a four-game series.
The Angels are playing their first of seven games on the road after wrapping up a productive six-game homestand (5-1). They won two out of three in their last series against the Mariners, taking the finale 9-4 on Sunday at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Zach Neto was 2 for 4 with two home runs and three runs. Taylor Ward added a home run and two runs, walking twice. The Rangers are returning home for a seven-game homestand.
They lost two of three against the Rays in their last series, dropping the finale 7-3 on Sunday at Tropicana Field. Robbie Grossman went 1 for 3 with a solo home run.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Rangers have won two of three in the season series between the AL West rivals, including a 16-8 victory in their most recent meeting on May 7 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Josh Sborz got the win with two scoreless innings of relief.
ON THE MOUND
Tyler Anderson (3-1, 5.62 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles. The LHP allowed four runs over five innings in his last start, a 7-4 home win over the Cubs on Tuesday. He got the win, yielding five hits while striking out five and walking three.
Anderson has made one previous start against the Rangers this season, a 5-4 home victory on May 5. He surrendered three runs on five hits over five innings, striking out six and walking five. Righty Dane Dunning (5-1, 2.52 ERA) is on the mound for Texas.
He has made one prior start against the Angels this season, holding opposing hitters scoreless over five innings in a 5-4 road defeat on May 5. He gave up two hits and walked one while striking out three in the no-decision.
In his last start on Tuesday, Dunning got the win at home against the Cardinals. He threw 5.2 innings and gave up four runs on seven hits, striking out one and walking two in the 6-4 triumph.
AT THE PLATE
The Los Angeles offense is averaging 4.8 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of .255/.328/.427. Shohei Ohtani leads the team in OPS at .925. He is slashing .281/.355/.570 with 18 home runs, 46 RBIs, and 40 runs over 65 games.
Against right-handed pitchers like Dunning this season, the Halos have a .745 OPS. Ohtani also is the team’s strongest performer against right-handers with a 1.000 OPS in 187 at-bats.
Texas is slashing .275/.343/.458 for the season and averaging 6.3 runs per game, the best in MLB. Marcus Semien leads the team with a .849 OPS. The shortstop has nine home runs, 51 RBIs, and 57 runs scored with a slash line of .297/.363/.487.
Texas is averaging only 4.0 runs per game in the last five with their slash line slipping across the board (.217/.301/.410). The Rangers have a .842 OPS against Southpaws in 2023, the third highest in MLB. With a 1.044 OPS over 57 at-bats, Josh Jung has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Los Angeles is 16-17 away from Angel Stadium of Anaheim in 2023, scoring 4.7 runs per game while allowing 4.5 runs. Texas has gone 21-9 in front of their home fans this season, averaging 6.8 runs per game while surrendering 4.1. Texas is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the teams at Globe Life Field with an average scoreline of 5.8-5.3.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Rangers lead the AL West by five games over the Astros. The Angels are third in the AL West, seven games behind the Rangers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Texas Rangers (-160)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
