The Los Angeles Angels look to win a series in Arlington on Sunday night, but more importantly look to pull to within one game of the Texas Rangers in the American League West. The Angels dropped Friday's series opener but came back to win Saturday night thanks to five home runs. Jered Weaver starts the series finale on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.
Weaver is making his first career start on three days rest. The right-hander threw 96 pitches in seven innings in a win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, and on the season is 15-6 with a major-league-best 2.03 ERA. Weaver is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA in four starts against Texas this season, and the Angels have won three of the four contests. Weaver has 24 quality starts in 27 outings this season, at 89% the best quality start percentage in baseball, and has pitched at least six innings in all but one start this season.
Colby Lewis is 11-9 with a 4.07 ERA this season. Lewis is 0-1 in two starts against the Angels this season with a 3.00 ERA. Lewis gave up four runs in five innings in a loss in Arlington on April 19, then pitched seven scoreless innings in Anaheim on August 18, a game eventually won by a shocking Mark Trumbo walk-off home run that spurred the Halos on their current hot streak.
The Angels have won seven of their last eight games. With a win on Sunday, the Angels will be one game behind the Rangers. They haven't been as close as one game out in the AL West since August 7.
Sunday's 5:05 p.m PDT game will be televised by ESPN. For more news and information on the Angels, be sure to read Halos Heaven.