The Angels face the Texas Rangers Tuesday night in the second game of their 4-games series. For the second night, the Halos will be relying on a rookie pitcher to contain one of the hottest hitting clubs in baseball. After last night's loss dropped the team 5 games behind Texas, Tyler Chatwood will try to keep the Angels from falling even further behind.
Chatwood (6-8, 4.07 ERA) hasn't pitched poorly, but the Angels hitters have failed to support the rookie right-hander. In seven of eight losses this season, the Angel hitters have failed to score a run while Chatwood was in the game. Despite allowing three runs-or-less in four of his last seven starts, Chatwood has gone just 1-4 in those starts. Not only have the hitters abandoned Chatwood, but the hurler has left 14 of his 22 starts with the club either tied or leading, but the team is just 9-11 in his starts.
Making the start for the Rangers will be Derek Holland (10-4, 4.30 ERA). The left-hander has won his last four decisions, while the Rangers have gone 6-2 in his previous 8 starts. In his last outing, Holland went 6 innings against Seattle, giving up 3 runs on seven hits, while striking out 7 and walking five.
Last Tuesday the Angels were just a 1.5 games behind the Rangers, however after losing five of six while the Rangers have won four of five, the Angels find themselves on the brink of falling behind by the largest deficit of the season with a loss Tuesday.
FUN FACTS:
- The Angels have not lost back-to-back games at home since June 8th and 10th.
- Six of the next 11 games are against the Rangers.
- Since the All-Star break, the Angels have hit just .220 (218 for 989) and have 5 regulars hitting below .200 over the last two weeks.
- The Angels have won seven times while collecting four hits or less. This leads the majors.
Who's Hot - Last 14 Days:
Torii Hunter - 21 for his last 48 (.438), 3 2B, 2 HR
Peter Bourjos - 13 for his last 42 (.310), 4 2B, 2 HR
Endy Chavez - 8 for his last 21 (.381),2 2B, 1 HR
Nelson Cruz - 15 for his last 50 (.300), 3 HR, 8 RBI
Mike Napoli - 14 for his last 48 (.292), 11 R, 4 HR, 10 RBI
Yorvit Torrealba - 20 for his last 49 (.408), 6 2B
Michael Young - 19 for his last 56 (.339), 2 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI
Who's Cold - Last 14 Days:
Howie Kendrick - 7 for his last 39 (.179)
Erick Aybar - 5 for his last 50 (.100)
Vernon Wells - 8 for his last 50 (.160)
Bobby Abreu - 6 for his last 41 (.146)
Game time is 7:05pm (PDT) and will be show on Fox Sports West. For more Angels' news, be sure to check out Halos Heaven.