The Los Angeles Angels were in the AL West race just one week ago despite its poor record but now sit 11 games out of first place.
The Los Angeles Angels are trying to stay within reach of a playoff spot despite being nearly 20 games under .500 but have the opportunity to make up ground on an American League West foe.
The Angels are the worst team in the AL by one game yet are just 9.5 games back from the final wild card spot and only 11 games back from the first-place Seattle Mariners in the AL West. 11 games is a lot, but given how weak the league and division are, all it takes is a hot run or two to get back in the race.
Starting July 0-4 certainly doesn’t help that cause, nor does getting swept by the Boston Red Sox. But winning a series over the Texas Rangers, which occupy the third wild card spot and second place in the AL West, would help get the Halos back to a good spot.
The two rivals will begin a three-game set on Tuesday and the series opener will feature a nasty pitching matchup between Angels right-hander and trade chip José Soriano and Rangers righty and future Hall of Famer Jacob deGrom.
Soriano has pitched well overall this season, posting a 8-5 record with a 3.42 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 111 strikeouts to 49 walks through 18 starts (100 innings). He had a blistering start to the season that had him in way-too-early AL Cy Young conversations but hasn’t been as effective recently.
The 27-year-old has emerged as one of the top trade candidates and if the Angels decide to move him, the All-Star snub could fetch a solid return. Soriano didn’t pitch in the Angels’ three-game sweep over Texas earlier this season.
deGrom has done deGrom things this season and is 7-5 with a 3.48 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 115 strikeouts to 20 walks through 17 starts (95.2 innings). The 38-year-old is on pace for over 200 strikeouts for the fifth time in his career and is coming off a nine-strikeout performance.
He last worked against the Cleveland Guardians and earned the win after pitching seven strong two-run innings, allowing four hits and no walks.
deGrom pitched against the Angels in Game 1 of the late-May series and was shelled by the streaky Angels offense, lasting just three innings and allowing six runs on six hits and three walks while fanning three in his shortest outing of the season.
First pitch is at 5:05 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
