Series Preview: Angels vs. Rangers vs. Parallel

It is incredibly easy to sit back and laugh at the hapless Rangers after their shockingly awful season. In fact, I’m pretty sure I did exactly that in the series preview one of the last times these two played. I’m not going to do that this time because it is eerily easy to see how the roles could be reversed in a parallel universe.

The Rangers are dreadful this year, but many expected them to contend. What cost them was a bunch of injuries and some big money investments that went tragically wrong. With Pujols, Wilson and Hamilton, that certainly could have been the Angels. In 2013, it almost was, only with fewer injuries, so the Angels were simply below average rather than abjectly terrible.

Texas even recently saw the only manager that ever took them to a World Series quit, though it was quite possible that he would’ve been fired anyway. Mike Scioscia, the only manager to ever take the Angels to the World Series, barely survived the 2013 season and may not have been retained had things gone a little bit worse last year.

I’m not saying that I have sympathy for the Rangers. I’m just saying I can see how easily the roles could’ve been reversed.

LAST TIME ON ANGELS VS. RANGERS…
The Halos played a three-game set in Texas back in mid-August and took two of three games, though the only loss came via a Huston Street blown save. They also swept the Rangers in four games in Texas back in July as well. In total, they are 10-3 against Texas on the year, so they’ve already secured a season series victory over their beleaguered rivals.

GHOST OF ANGELS PAST

Amazingly, the Rangers have no former Angels on their current roster. It used to feel like these two franchises were constantly poaching from each other, but apparently that is just a one-way street now.

Perhaps the ghost in this case then is Josh Hamilton’s contract. He’s in his second disappointing season and battling another injury. GM Jon Daniels sure seemed pissed about losing Hamilton, but not re-signing the slugger might have been one of the most damaging things he could’ve done to the Halos.

MATCH-UP MASTERY
TUESDAY, 9/9: Hector Santiago vs. Colby Lewis
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Hector has had real problems with Rios and Beltre in the past, but been effective against most everyone else. This will also be Hector’s fourth start against the Rangers this year, so they’ve certainly seen him plenty, though each of his three previous starts have only steadily improved.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1NZjxx2C5hcDbigIZZ0wX2K0a8LrHKGzQ9Op4b67lyRE/pubchart” query=”oid=455571335&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”312″ /] Howie Kendrick has had a nice history against Colby Lewis, which is great considering how red hot Howie has been. Brennan Boesch has a nice little history too. He’s only got five hits off Lewis, but three of them were dingers. This is Lewis’ fourth start against the Halos this year. He was lit up in one start and got hit hard in his last start as well, even with the benefit of the largest strike zone I’ve seen not involving Eric Gregg.

WEDNESDAY, 9/10: Matt Shoemaker vs. Nick Tepesch
[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1NZjxx2C5hcDbigIZZ0wX2K0a8LrHKGzQ9Op4b67lyRE/pubchart” query=”oid=47205413&format=interactive” width=”621″ height=”315″ /] Shoemaker has limited experience against Texas, but in that time he has been almost completely incapable of getting Leonys Martin out. Matt has two solid starts against the Rangers already this season, so this is a nice team for him to try and bounceback against after his rough outing in Minnesota.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1NZjxx2C5hcDbigIZZ0wX2K0a8LrHKGzQ9Op4b67lyRE/pubchart” query=”oid=1146916318&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”312″ /] Tepesch is hardly overpowering but he’s got solid numbers against Angels hitters and has already turned in two quality starts against the Halos this year.

THURSDAY, 9/11: Cory Rasmus vs. Scott Baker
It isn’t 100% official, but it sure looks like Rasmus is going to get the nod once again. Ultimately, it will be a bullpen game, presumably with Roth or LeBlanc set to follow Ramus, although maybe Scioscia might try and change things around a little bit this time, especially since Texas has a limited number of left-handed or switch-hitting bats.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”spreadsheets/d/1NZjxx2C5hcDbigIZZ0wX2K0a8LrHKGzQ9Op4b67lyRE/pubchart” query=”oid=860112052&format=interactive” width=”619″ height=”312″ /] Baker’s history against the Angels looks better than it does because he’s compiled a lot of PAs against guys who may not get off the bench in this game. As for the “real” Angels players, Erick Aybar has been all over Baker, though without much power. Baker did face the Angels once earlier in the year and got knocked out after four innings, though the Halos did go on to lose that game.

OFFICIAL PREDICTION
The Angels are rolling. The Rangers are basically just counting down the days until the season is over and already saw their manager resign. This should and will be a sweep for the Angels.

UNOFFICIAL PREDICTION (so don’t hold me to it)
The Angels will have at least one game where they post yet another 6+ run inning.