The Los Angeles Angels (15-19) and Texas Rangers (22-12) will close out a three-game American League West series on Sunday night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Las Vegas oddsmakers have established the Rangers as slight minus-125 home favorites, while the opening total of eight is facing upward pressure in the betting market.
Los Angeles evened the series with a 4-2 victory on Saturday, improving to 3-2 on its current six-game road trip against the Rangers and Minnesota Twins. The Angels are still a disappointing 6-11 away from Southern California this season.
First baseman Albert Pujols continues to struggle at the plate, hitting .195 with just a single home run and 11 RBI in 33 games played. He will have a hard time improving those numbers against Rangers starter Neftali Feliz, who has limited right-handed batters to a .194 average over the course of his career.
Feliz (2-1, 3.37 ERA) has not allowed an earned run in his last 12.1 innings against the Angels, as he comes off a 10-3 road win over the Baltimore Orioles. He gave up just a single run and four hits over six frames in that effort.
The right-hander has failed to record a decision in 22 career relief appearances in this rivalry, surrendering just four runs (three earned) and nine hits in 22.1 frames. Not a single player on the Angels roster has hit a home run when facing him.
Jered Weaver (5-0, 1.60 ERA) has been tremendous through seven starts this season, but he’ll need to be careful against one of baseball’s most explosive lineups, especially when pitching to Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton.
The 2010 AL MVP launched his ninth home run in six games on Saturday, giving him a major league-leading 18 on the year. He has nine hits in 34 career at-bats (.265) against the Angels right-hander, but has left the yard just once.
Weaver has not fared well in 13 lifetime outings at Rangers Ballpark, entering with a 2-6 record and 4.55 ERA, including a 1-2 mark and 5.14 ERA in three outings in 2011.
Sports bettors will find that the Angels have still managed to win six of his last eight starts versus the Rangers, while the “under” has cashed in four of the last five opportunities in that situation.
Weather forecasts suggest clear skies and game-time temperatures in the mid-70s, with a 5-to-10 MPH breeze out of the north-northeast (left to right).
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