Game: Texas Rangers @ Los Angeles Angels
Time: 9:38 p.m.
Odds: Rangers -152, Angels +139
Total: 8.5
In the third and final game of a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels tonight in Anaheim, Calif., the Texas Rangers will try to get one step closer to securing their first postseason berth in seven seasons. The Rangers also hope to start shortstop Corey Seager. With five games left in the season, the Rangers (88-69) lead the Houston Astros by two and a half games and the Seattle Mariners by three in the American League West race.
Tuesday saw Texas lose to the Angels (71-87) but gain no ground on the Astros (who lost to the Mariners). The Rangers’ six-game winning streak came to an end as a result of yesterday’s 9-3 loss.
The fact that Seager wasn’t seriously hurt after being hit by a pitch from Reid Detmers in the right forearm during the fifth inning was possibly the most positive development for the Rangers last night.
Since the Angels were up 9-1 at the time, Seager and three other Rangers left the game before the bottom of the sixth inning. Seager was X-rayed and the results were negative. He is listed as questionable for tonight’s game.
This crucial final week of the season is a time when Texas most certainly does not want to be without Seager. The four-time All-Star, who has a .332 batting average, has hit 33 home runs and has 96 RBIs in 114 games. Detmers was trying to come inside on Seager when he went a little too far inside.
On Tuesday, the Rangers had just six hits. After hitting home runs in each of the previous two games, All-Star right fielder Adolis Garcia, who recently recovered from a knee injury, was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Garcia leads Texas with 37 home runs this season, but the Rangers were muffled by Detmers’ seven innings of one-run ball after Brandon Drury’s three-run homer in the first inning ignited the Angels offense. LA played well on Tuesday despite having nothing to play for and only winning three times in their previous 13 games.
Tonight right-hander Griffin Canning (7-7, 4.39 ERA), will try to end a five-start losing streak. He has a 3.68 ERA and a 0-3 record over his last five starts. Last Thursday, Canning pitched five innings against the Tampa Bay Rays and was given a no-decision after giving up two runs and three hits. In six career appearances (four starts) against the Rangers, Canning is 2-2 with a 6.38 ERA. On August 14, he was not involved in the decision against Texas after giving up four runs on six hits in 3.1 innings.
Marcus Semien (5-for-21) has homered twice off Canning, while Robbie Grossman is 6-for-14 against him with a home run and three doubles. Texas’ right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning (11-6, 3.88) will start the game for the Rangers. During his last three starts, Dunning has a 3.86 ERA and a 2-0 record. Last Friday, he defeated the Mariners despite throwing 5.1 innings and giving up four runs on four hits.
This season, Dunning has pitched against the Angels twice and has a 2.70 ERA. In his 10 career starts against Los Angeles, he is 2-3 with a 4.94 ERA. In his five at-bats against Dunning, Jared Walsh is 6-for-13 with two home runs.
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