News
Angels confront improved Rangers
Los Angeles (64-42) vs. Texas (60-47), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Lyle Spencer / MLB.com
08/06/09 7:39 PM ET
CHICAGO -- Showdown time. The Angels come face-to-face again with the Rangers, their challengers for American League West supremacy, in a big weekend series at Angel Stadium that kicks off with Joe Saunders engaging Scott Feldman. The Rangers have "owned" the Angels this season, as Torii Hunter put it, taking seven of nine from the Halos. That includes seizing two of three games in Anaheim July 6-8. It was during that series that both Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero went down with injuries. Guerrero is back, in the designated hitter role, but Hunter is still rehabbing his right adductor muscle strain. The Rangers, with vastly improved pitching and defense, certainly have captured the Angels' undivided attention. In spite of its head-to-head success against the two-time reigning division champs, Texas is the hunter, chasing big game. Rangers manager Ron Washington clearly understands the challenge at hand. "When you look at it," Washington said, "if we don't go in there and play well, it's obvious we can't fall back. Will it make or break our season? No. If we end up getting hot after we leave there and they hit a cold spell, we'll be right back in it. "But certainly we can't afford to go in there and fall back." Darren Oliver, who puts the journey in journeyman with two decades of professional experience in a multitude of locations, spends his winters in the Dallas area, in South Lake, and has retained some contacts with the Rangers organization. Oliver spent at least parts of eight seasons in a Texas uniform, winning 27 games for the Rangers in back-to-back seasons (1996-97) as a starter. "I figured eventually they were going to be where they're at," Oliver said. "The pitching's been good. With any team, that's the key. They've got one of the best hitting coaches in the game. I've got a ton of respect for Rudy [Jaramillo]. Offense never has been a problem there." With Kevin Millwood, who goes Saturday against Jered Weaver, anchoring the rotation and Feldman and lefty Derek Holland making imprints behind him, the Rangers have been getting quality starting pitching all season. Oliver senses that team president Nolan Ryan has had something to do with the improved mound work, along with pitching coach Mike Maddux. "He [Ryan] has that fear-factor respect," Oliver said. "You can't argue with him, everything he's done and knows. "They're tough. I know Michael Young, and he's one of those guys who leads by example. And it's good to see [former Angels sidearmer] Darren O'Day doing so well for them. He's a good dude." O'Day is holding right-handed hitters to a .168 batting average in 96 at-bats, and left-handers are hitting only .262 against him. He has a 1.72 ERA through 41 appearances. The Rangers' bullpen, already deep with C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco at the back end, has been fortified by the arrival of super-prospect Neftali Feliz and his 100-mph heater. Feliz hit 101 mph on the radar gun in striking out four Athletics in two innings Monday night in his Major League debut. Feliz was part of the haul Texas extracted from Atlanta when it dealt Mark Teixeira to the Braves at the 2007 non-waiver Trade Deadline. The Rangers also landed their gifted young shortstop, Elvis Andrus, who has made a major impact on their defense, along with catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and pitcher Matt Harrison, who has contributed as a starter. Pitching matchupLAA: LHP Joe Saunders (9-6, 5.07 ERA)
Saunders wasn't razor-sharp in his last outing, but he kept his team in the game and lasted six innings on Saturday night at the Metrodome. He finished strong after yielding a pair of runs in each of the second and third innings, creating optimism that he has ironed out some command issues. Still, he has given up four or more runs in seven consecutive outings, his ERA soaring from 3.66 on June 24 to 5.07. Saunders is 3-5 with a 6.52 ERA in nine career starts against the Rangers. He is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in four starts against them in Anaheim and 0-5 with a 11.68 ERA in five starts against them in Arlington. TEX: RHP Scott Feldman (10-4, 3.91 ERA)
Feldman allowed two earned runs over seven innings against the Mariners on Sunday. It came on just three days' rest. He earned his 10th victory of the season, which extends a career high. Feldman also posted his 13th quality start. He is 9-1 with a 2.60 ERA in those starts. Since joining the Rangers' rotation on April 25, Feldman is 10-4 with a 3.42 ERA. The Rangers are 13-6 in Feldman's starts this season. He is 2-3 over 15 games -- six starts -- with a 5.23 ERA over 43 innings pitched against the Angels in his career. On the road, he is 11-10 with a 5.19 ERA over 164 2/3 innings pitched in 60 games -- 21 starts. Tidbits
Bobby Abreu's fifth-inning homer on Thursday was No. 250 in his career, putting him in exclusive company as one of six players in history with 250 homers, 2,000 hits, 1,000 runs scored, 1,000 RBIs and 300 steals. Abreu joins Willie Mays, Barry Bonds, Joe Morgan, Rickey Henderson and Craig Biggio. ... The Angels are 14-17 against AL West opponents. They're 6-7 against the Mariners and 6-3 against the A's. ... The Rangers have the best record inside the division of the four AL West clubs. The difference in the race is Interleague Play. The Angels were 14-4 against the National League West, compared to Texas' 9-9 record. ... Texas is seventh in the AL in team ERA, five notches ahead of the Angels. The Rangers are sixth in fielding percentage, three spots behind the Angels. Here's the big surprise: Texas ranks 12th in batting average, while the Angels lead the pack, and the Angels have outscored the Rangers by 90 runs. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• FS-W On radio
• KLAA 830, KFWB, KWKW 1330 (Español) Up next
• Saturday: Angels (Jered Weaver, 11-3, 3.79) vs. Rangers (Kevin Millwood, 9-7, 3.39), 1:10 p.m. PT
• Sunday: Angels (John Lackey, 7-4, 3.96) vs. Rangers (Derek Holland, 4-7, 5.60), 12:35 p.m. PT
• Monday: Angels (Sean O'Sullivan, 3-1, 4.24) vs. Rays (Matt Garza, 7-8, 3.63), 7:05 p.m. PT
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
