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The LA Angels and the Texas Rangers Begin a Crucial AL West Series over the weekend

 

The Texas Rangers and the LA Angels will battle for the American League West all year long, starting this weekend.
After throwing six consecutive gems to open the season, Jered Weaver has finally faltered in his past two starts. He’s rarely been anything but outstanding recently against the Texas Rangers.
One of Weaver’s two complete game victories last month came in Arlington, a feat he’ll look to repeat Friday night when he tries to bounce back as his Los Angeles Angels open a three-game set with the Rangers.
Weaver (6-2, 1.87 ERA) had a 0.99 ERA while winning his first six starts, including a six-hitter in Texas in a 4-1 victory April 20.
He followed that with a 10-strikeout shutout against Oakland five days later, but May hasn’t been as kind to the towering right-hander. Weaver gave up three runs over six innings in a 9-5 loss at Boston on May 2, then surrendered four runs in six innings while losing 4-3 to Cleveland on Saturday.
Weaver, who led the majors in strikeouts in 2010 and was No. 1 again prior to his last outing, didn’t have any against the Indians.
Weaver’s latest start versus the Rangers (19-18) wasn’t his only excellent effort in the series of late. Since July, he’s 4-1 with a 1.90 ERA in six starts in the AL West rivalry.
The Angels (21-17) could certainly use an emotional boost after Wednesday’s series finale against the White Sox. With a 4-1 lead, Los Angeles’ bullpen gave up one run in the eighth, two in the ninth and two more in the 10th in a crushing 6-4 loss. Mike Scioscia’s relievers have a 9.58 ERA over the past four games.
Los Angeles is the AL’s best hitting club (.300) on the road, where it’s averaged 5.37 runs and hit a major league-best 25 homers while going 12-7.
The Angels will get their first look at Alexi Ogando (3-0, 2.17) as a starter, which could spell trouble considering what the righty did against them as a reliever. In eight appearances out of the bullpen last season against Los Angeles, Ogando scattered four hits and struck out eight.
He hasn’t pitched since May 3, when he gave up one run over six innings in a 4-3 loss at Seattle. He left, though, with a blister on his right index finger that forced him to miss his scheduled start Sunday. That could prevent him from pitching well today as the Halos win!
MLB Sports Betting Picks: LA Angels
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