Angels, Rangers Clash in Rubber Match

Texas won for the first time in five games to improve its record to 10-14. The Rangers are in last place in the division, two games behind the Angels and five behind the first-place Oakland Athletics.

The MLB odds for this contest have the Angels with a moneyline of -122, while the Rangers are at +112. The over/under has been set at 8½ runs.

Hot Hitter of Sorts

Outfielder Justin Upton went 1-for-4 on Tuesday night to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. While that might seem like Upton is hot, he has only one hit in 10 of those games. Upton is batting .240 and has struck out 13 times in those 11 games, meaning he has more strikeouts than hits in the streak.

Shohei Ohtani has been the power hitter for the Angels, leading the team in doubles (five), home runs (seven) and RBIs (18). He’s batting .286, though he’s walked just three times and struck out 26 times.

Mike Trout is off to a fast start, batting .431 with six home runs, seven doubles and 14 RBIs. He is the only Los Angeles player to have walked more than six times, drawing 14 in 20 games.

The Angels will send right-hander Alex Cobb (1-1, 6.28 ERA) to the mound for the series finale. Cobb has allowed at least three earned runs in each of his first three starts. In his last outing, Cobb lasted just 2.2 innings against Houston, allowing four earned runs on six hits while striking out four and walking three.

Hoping for Better

The Rangers’ starter, 26-year-old right-hander Dale Dunning, is also hoping to bounce back from a rough outing. Dunning’s last start lasted just 2.2 innings against the Chicago White Sox and he was hit for five earned runs on eight hits.

Dunning had allowed just one earned run in three starts prior to that game, striking out 16 and walking just two. He is 1-0 with a 3.06 ERA, having worked 17.2 innings in his four starts.

Second baseman Nick Solak is coming off his best game, going 3-for-4 with two solo home runs in the Rangers’ 6-1 win on Tuesday night. Solak now leads Texas with seven home runs and is batting .307 with 14 RBIs and a team-high 17 runs scored.

First baseman Nate Lowe has stroked six home runs and driven in a team-high 21 runs. Outfielder Joey Gallo has yet to really get going, batting .236 with two home runs and nine RBIs, but he is getting on base, drawing 23 walks and possessing a .439 on-base percentage.

Angels Take Series

Neither of the pitchers in this game is going particularly well right now, though Dunning had pitched well before his previous outing. Los Angeles has plenty of batters who could give him trouble in this one.

The Rangers’ offense has been hot and cold, and it’s rare for them to put wins together this season. This one will be close, but we like the Angels to take this one.

When making your MLB betting picks, go with Los Angeles in the series finale.

PICK: Los Angeles Angels -122