On Deck will be here all season to provide you with everything you need to know (and a few things you don't) about every Rangers series during the 2016 season.
The Opponent: The Angels have several question marks this year and could be challenging the A's for last place in the West, but they do still have the best player in baseball.
Past Meetings: The Rangers went 7-12 against the Angels last year, continuing their trend of being bad against the worst teams in the division but dominating the Astros.
Pitching Matchups: Thursday — Derek Holland vs. Hector Santiago; Friday — A.J. Griffin vs. Matt Shoemaker; Saturday — Cole Hamels (1-0, 2.57 ERA) vs. Garrett Richards (0-1, 5.40); Sunday — Martin Perez (0-0, 3.00) vs. TBA
What's Hot: Adrian Beltre's three hits through the first three games lead the Rangers, while Prince Fielder not only had the first hit of the year for Texas but also the first home run in Wednesday's loss. Cole Hamels was very good in his season debut, and Martin Perez was strong, too. Only difference? The bullpen backed up Hamels and not Perez.
Not much to say here about the Angels, who were swept in dominant fashion by the World Series favorite Cubs. No player has more than one hit, but that list includes former Rangers outfielder Craig Gentry.
What's Not: The Rangers' bullpen was dynamite in an Opening Day win that saw the Rangers get just one hit. In the other two games of the opening series, they were battered around like the Rangers' bullpen of last April. Not quite what we were expecting.
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
Mike Trout is off to an 0-for-8 start in the Angels' first three games, but that is sure to change soon.
Familiar Faces: The two most obvious names here — Josh Hamilton and C.J. Wilson — are both on the disabled list, meaning the Rangers won't face their former teammate Wilson and the Angels won't deal with Hamilton, who they are paying to play for the Rangers. Also, Craig Gentry is in an Angels uniform now.
