The Rangers and Angels, trying to make ground in American League playoff races, kick off a four-game AL West rivalry series Monday night in Arlington. How are we playing this game with our free MLB pick?
MLB Betting Odds
As of this writing, Monday’s MLB betting odds were holding off on lining this game, perhaps trying to get a better read on the Angels pitching situation.
Angels vs. Rangers Set-Up
Los Angeles just dropped the last three game of a four-game series at home to Oakland over the weekend, losing Sunday’s series finale 12-3. Just before that the Angels swept two games at home from Cincinnati, but just before that they lost two of three at St. Louis. So Los Angeles is 4-6 over its last 10 games.
At 42-43 overall the Angels trail division-leading Houston by 11 games in the AL West, but they’re only 4.5 games behind Texas in the battle for the second American League wild-card spot.
The Rangers, meanwhile, just lost two of three games at Tampa Bay over the weekend, losing Sunday’s series rubber match 6-2. But just before that Texas swept three games at Detroit, and just before that it took two of three at home from the White Sox. So the Rangers are 6-2 over their last eight games.
At 46-38 overall Texas trails the Astros by 6.5 games in the AL West but it also owns the No. 2 spot in the AL wild-card standings.
These two teams have split 10 meetings so far this season.
Monday’s Starting Arms
Lefty Minor, by our stringent accounting, is 10/17 on quality starts this season and almost five for his last five. Last Wednesday he held the Tigers to one run and five hits through nine full innings of a 4-1 Rangers victory. And over his last five starts, he’s allowed just seven runs and 23 hits through 37 innings.
Texas is 10-7 with Minor this season, 5-0 over his last five starts.
Over his last four starts against Los Angeles, two last year and two this year, Minor allowed just four runs and 17 hits through 26 innings. The Rangers won three of those four games.
Twenty-one-year-old rookie lefty Suarez is 0/4 on quality starts since joining the Angels rotation a month ago. Most recently, eleven days ago, he gave up five runs and eight hits, including three homers, through five innings of a 7-5 Los Angeles loss at Toronto. And over his four starts, he’s allowed 13 runs and 22 hits, including six dingers, through 21 innings.
Thanks to some decent run support the Angels are 2-2 with Suarez this season.
This will be Suarez’s first-ever start against Texas.
Monday’s Batting Splits
Los Angeles is batting .241/.322/.408 against left-handed pitching this season.
Texas is batting .230/.303/.405 against lefties this season.
The Bullpens
The Angels bullpen owns a 4.51 ERA this season and a 1.38 WHIP while allowing a .758 OPS.
The Rangers pen owns a 4.64 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP while allowing an .800 OPS.
Totals Report
- Unders are 41-38 in Angels games this season.
- Unders are 44-38 in Rangers games this season.
- Unders are 24-19 in games played at Globe Life Park this season.
- Unders are 7-3 in Angels-Rangers games this season.
- Overs are 3-0 with Suarez this season.
- Unders are 13-4 with Minor this season.
- Get more details: Angels at Rangers MLB Match-up Stats
