Texas (61-62) at LA Angels (64-60)
When: Monday, August 21st 2017
Where: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Time: 10:05 ET | TV: FSN Southwest, FSN West
Opening Odds: Los Angeles -126/9
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The battle for the American League Wild Card heats up again this week as the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels begin an important four-game series on Monday night in Anaheim. The Angels are coming off a 7-2 road trip to move into a tie with the Minnesota Twins for the second WC spot behind the New York Yankees. The Rangers sit just 2.5 games back with the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals in front of them. Los Angeles ended their successful road swing with Sunday’s 5-4 win over Baltimore as Cameron Maybin delivered a go-ahead pinch-hit single and Kole Calhoun homered for the third time in a week. The Angels belted 11 homer runs in the weekend series against Baltimore, including two from Luis Valbuena, who has nine homers and 19 RBIs over his last 21 starts. Texas has won five of its last seven but was held scoreless until the ninth inning of Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Second baseman Rougned Odor hit a two-run homer in the ninth and is batting .387 with three homers and seven RBIs over his last eight games. The Rangers got a scare in the eighth inning when third baseman Joey Gallo collided with reliever Matt Bush, and both were placed into the concussion protocol after the game. Veteran third baseman Adrian Beltre has 3,022 career hits, which puts him one short of tying Hall-of-Famer Lou Brock for 25th place on the all-time list.
Pitchers: Rangers – Cole Hamels (8-1, 3.48 ERA) | Angels – Tyler Skaggs (1-3, 3.63)
Cole Hamels was not his sharpest on Wednesday, but came away with his eighth victory of the season to only one loss. He allowed four runs on eight hits with five walks in six innings of work. Hamels has won his last four decisions and owns a 6-1 mark with a 2.93 ERA in nine starts since the beginning of July. He is 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA in seven career starts against the Angels – including 1-0 with a 0.61 ERA in two outings this season.
NEW YORK GIANTS VS CLEVELAND BROWNS PREVIEW AND FREE PICK
Tyler Skaggs will be activated from the bereavement list on Monday and is still making progress from missing 85 games with an oblique strain. Skaggs took the loss at Washington last Tuesday after allowing two runs on seven hits in five innings with six strikeouts. He is 2-1 with a 5.46 ERA in six career starts against Texas and has struggled with Elvis Andrus, who is 6-for-12 with a home run against Hamels.
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Hamels has been solid all season long and terrific in his two starts against the Angels. Skaggs has not enjoyed success against the Rangers and shouldn’t be such a big favorite despite the Angels winning nine of 11 overall. I’ll take the dog.
Pick: Rangers +130
TRENDS:
- Rangers are 4-0 in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rangers are 5-1 in their last 6 games following a loss.
- Rangers are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
- Rangers are 8-2 in their last 10 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rangers are 8-3 in their last 11 overall.
- Rangers are 8-3 in their last 11 games on grass.
- Rangers are 2-5 in their last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Rangers are 1-6 in their last 7 Monday games.
- Rangers are 28-8 in Hamels’ last 36 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Rangers are 14-4 in Hamels’ last 18 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Rangers are 15-5 in Hamels’ last 20 starts during game 1 of a series.
- Rangers are 18-6 in Hamels’ last 24 starts vs. American League West.
- Rangers are 42-15 in Hamels’ last 57 starts on grass.
- Rangers are 44-16 in Hamels’ last 60 starts.
- Rangers are 1-5 in Hamels’ last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Rangers are 0-4 in Hamels’ last 4 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Angels are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. American League West.
- Angels are 6-0 in their last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Angels are 6-0 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Angels are 9-2 in their last 11 overall.
- Angels are 9-2 in their last 11 games on grass.
- Angels are 6-2 in their last 8 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Angels are 9-3 in their last 12 games following a win.
- Angels are 8-3 in their last 11 home games.
- Angels are 7-3 in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Angels are 24-49 in their last 73 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Angels are 4-10 in their last 14 during game 1 of a series.
- Angels are 2-5 in their last 7 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Angels are 1-4 in their last 5 home games following a road trip of 7 or more days.
- Angels are 1-4 in their last 5 Monday games.
- Angels are 6-1 in Skaggs’ last 7 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Angels are 2-5 in Skaggs’ last 7 home starts.
- Angels are 1-4 in Skaggs’ last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Rangers last 4 Monday games.
- Under is 6-0 in Rangers last 6 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Rangers last 4 vs. American League West.
- Under is 6-1 in Rangers last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Rangers last 6 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Rangers last 6 games following a loss.
- Under is 24-9-2 in Rangers last 35 during game 1 of a series.
- Under is 18-7-1 in Rangers last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 15-7 in Rangers last 22 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 6-1-1 in Hamels’ last 8 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 5-1 in Hamels’ last 6 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Hamels’ last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 6-2 in Hamels’ last 8 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 26-9 in Hamels’ last 35 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Over is 8-3 in Hamels’ last 11 road starts.
- Over is 15-6-2 in Hamels’ last 23 starts on grass.
- Over is 10-4-1 in Hamels’ last 15 starts vs. American League West.
- Over is 36-17-4 in Hamels’ last 57 starts overall.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Angels last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Angels last 7 overall.
- Under is 5-1-1 in Angels last 7 on grass.
- Under is 9-2-3 in Angels last 14 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Under is 4-1 in Angels last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-1 in Angels last 5 home games.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Angels last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Angels last 5 games following a win.
- Under is 6-2-2 in Angels last 10 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Angels last 5 vs. American League West.
- Under is 18-7-1 in Angels last 26 Monday games.
- Over is 5-2 in Angels last 7 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 9-4-1 in Angels last 14 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Skaggs’ last 4 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Skaggs’ last 5 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1-1 in Skaggs’ last 8 home starts.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Skaggs’ last 7 home starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Skaggs’ last 6 starts on grass.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Skaggs’ last 6 starts overall.
- Under is 5-2 in Skaggs’ last 7 starts vs. American League West.
- Under is 3-0-1 in the last 4 meetings.
- Over is 3-0-1 in Hamels’ last 4 starts vs. Angels.
- Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Los Angeles.
