With Wednesday night's 4-3 loss to the Texas Rangers, the Angels now face the almost insurmountable task of catching one of baseball's hottest teams with just 37 games remaining. The seven game deficit the Angels must overcome is the largest gap the two teams have had this season. It's almost unbelievable that a week ago the Halos were just 1.5 games behind and had been no more than 2 games back for almost two weeks. But while the Angels were going 1-7, the Rangers were winning 9 of their last ten games.
Looking to keep the Angels' slim playoff hopes alive in the final game of the 4-game set, Angel ace Jered Weaver (14-6, 2.13 ERA) will try to rebound from his worst start of the season. Last Saturday the lanky right-hander allowed eight earned runs in 4.2 innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, ballooning his ERA from 1.78 to 2.13. In that contest, Weaver allowed 3 home runs. The last time he had done that was May 18, 2010 - against the Texas Rangers. Weaver has done well against the Rangers at home in his career as he's posted a 7-0 mark while compiling a 2.32 ERA in eleven starts. Back on July 21st he went seven innings against Texas, getting the 1-0 win by allowing seven hits and striking out six.
The Rangers will turn to Colby Lewis (11-8, 4.01 ERA) to set one of the final nails in the Angels' coffin. Lewis is 5-1 over his last 6 decisions, while the Rangers have won 7 of his last nine starts. Last Saturday in Oakland, the right-hander got the win by going 6.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out 8 and walking none.
FUN FACTS:
- Last night's loss was the first time the Angels have lost three straight at home.
- Four of the next 7 games against the Rangers will be played in Anaheim.
- The club is 2-44 when trailing after 7 innings.
- The Angels have signed 39 of the 49 players selected in this season's first year players draft, including their first 13 picks.
Who's Hot - Last 14 Days:
Torii Hunter - 21 for his last 48 (.438), 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR
Maicer Izturis - 9 for his last 30 (.300)
Endy Chavez - 10 for his last 30 (.333),2 2B, 1 HR
Josh Hamilton - 18 for his last 59 (.305), 3 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI
Mitch Moreland - 16 for his last 44 (.364)
Mike Napoli - 15 for his last 50 (.300), 10 R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Yorvit Torrealba - 19 for his last 49 (.388), 4 2B
Michael Young - 23 for his last 57 (.404), 3 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 12 RBI
Ian Kinsler - 16 for his last 56 (.286), 12 R, 5 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI
Who's Cold - Last 14 Days:
Erick Aybar - 4 for his last 49 (.082)
Vernon Wells - 6 for his last 51 (.118)
Bobby Abreu - 7 for his last 37 (.189)
Jeff Mathis - 2 for his last 16 (.125)
Alberto Callaspo - 8 for his last 40 (.200)
Bobby Wilson - 3 for his last 19 (.158)
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.