Rangers at Angels
The Los Angeles Angels did not fare well on a seven-game road trip and won't get to spend much time at home before heading out again. The Angels will try to snap a five-game slide when they begin a five-game homestand by hosting the Texas Rangers on Tuesday.
Los Angeles, which began its road trip by dropping three of four at Texas, is looking at another season on the outside of the playoffs and struggled to hang with the best team in the American League West while dropping three straight at the Houston Astros over the weekend. One of the problems for the Angels is a struggle to win close games, and they dropped three one-run decisions at Texas last week, including two in extra innings. The Rangers began their six-game road trip by dropping three of four at the Chicago White Sox as the bats went silent, totaling eight runs in the four games and capping the series by getting shut out 2-0. Texas will try to muster more support Tuesday for lefty ace Mike Minor, who goes up against Los Angeles left-hander Andrew Heaney.
TV: 10:07 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Mike Minor (11-7, 3.17 ERA) vs. Angels LH Andrew Heaney (3-3, 4.31)
Minor was roughed up by the Angels on Wednesday, when he surrendered a season-high seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and a pair of walks in 5 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old yielded a total of three earned runs in 22 innings over his first three August starts and breezed through the first three innings Wednesday before giving up runs in each of the next three innings. Minor fared better at Los Angeles on May 25, allowing one run in six innings without factoring in the decision.
Heaney was at his best at Texas last Tuesday, striking out a career-high 14 without issuing a walk and allowing one run over eight innings to earn the win. The 28-year-old surrendered three or fewer runs in each of his last five outings and completed at least seven innings in the last two turns. Heaney made his season debut at home against Texas on May 26 and yielded a pair of solo home runs over five innings while striking out eight.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angels CF Mike Trout (99) needs one RBI to reach 100 for the third time in his career.
2. Rangers DH Hunter Pence (back) sat out the last two games and is day-to-day.
3. Texas 2B Rougned Odor is 0-for-21 over his last six games.