Angels at Rangers
The Los Angeles Angels landed Zack Cozart via free agency and re-signed Justin Upton during the offseason in an effort to fortify the top of their batting order, and the early returns suggest the vision to protect Mike Trout was right on target. The Angels attempt to record their sixth win in seven tries on Tuesday, when they continue their three-game road series against the Texas Rangers.
Los Angeles finished 22nd in runs scored and ranked 28th in team batting average in 2017 as Trout missed 48 games, giving the team plenty of motivation to make a late August trade for Upton and sign Cozart in December. Due in part to the contributions of Cozart (run scored in five straight games) and Upton (team-leading nine RBIs), the Angels lead the majors with 68 runs scored and pace the American League in batting average (.270) despite a slow start from two-time AL MVP Trout. While Los Angeles is 8-3 after 11 games for the first time in 31 years, the Rangers are 2-6 at home and have yet to win consecutive games after falling 8-3 in Monday's series opener. To make matters worse, Texas watched second baseman Rougned Odor leave in the first inning with a left hamstring strain.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FS West (Los Angeles), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels LH Tyler Skaggs (1-0, 1.64 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Martin Perez (1-0, 5.06)
Skaggs struck out five over 4 2/3 innings but needed 103 pitches to do so in Wednesday's no-decision at home against Cleveland, which reached him for two runs on five hits and two walks. The 26-year-old was dominant in his season debut on March 30, permitting only three singles while striking out five over 6 1/3 scoreless frames in a win at Oakland. Elvis Andrus is 7-for-16 with a homer against Skaggs, who went 0-1 with a 7.79 ERA in four starts versus the Rangers last season.
Perez received some early run support and managed to do just enough to get the victory Thursday at Oakland, allowing three runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings while recording only one strikeout. The 27-year-old Venezuelan has been much more successful at home throughout his career (26-19, 4.18 ERA) than on the road (16-23, 4.73). Perez went 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three starts versus the Angels last season, getting both wins over a 10-day span from Aug. 24-Sept.3.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre notched his 3,060th career hit in the opener, tying Craig Biggio for 22nd place on the all-time list.
2. Los Angeles 1B/DH Albert Pujols' solo shot Monday moved him within two RBIs of tying Jimmie Foxx (1,925) for seventh place on the all-time list.
3. Texas has dropped each of its four series openers but is 3-0 in the second game of each series.