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 are four games under .500, but they've actually won seven of their last 10 games despite having a M.A.S.H. unit for a pitching staff and only a few capable bats.
Past 2016 Meetings: The Rangers are 4-3 against the Angels this year, splitting a four-game set in Anaheim and winning two of three in Arlington.
Pitching Matchups: Monday — Nick Tropeano (2-2, 3.30 ERA) vs. Derek Holland (3-3, 5.63); Tuesday — Jhoulys Chacin (0-0, 4.76) vs. Martin Perez (1-4, 3.48); Wednesday — Hector Santiago (3-2, 3.93) vs. Colby Lewis (3-0, 2.75).
What's Hot: The Angels have some bats going at the moment and none more than the ageless Albert Pujols, who's batting .400 with five RBIs in his last seven games. Mike Trout is hitting .370 with two homers and six RBIs in the same span and Yunel Escobar is hitting .321 with five walks.
Prince Fielder is starting to hit the ball. Is he showing much power? No, but in his last five games he's hitting .316 with two doubles and three RBIs. Ian Desmond is still going well, hitting .308 with a homer and three RBIs in the same span. Colby Lewis tossed seven shutout innings his last time out, giving him five straight outings of seven innings.
What's Not: One of the Angels' most feared hitters, Kole Calhoun, is struggling with a .207 average in his last seven games with just one RBI. Hector Santiago allowed four runs in his last outing in just 2 2/3 innings.
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Derek Holland was OK his last time out, registering a quality start against Oakland. But another clunker of an outing could jeopardize his status when Yu Darvish returns from the disabled list on Saturday. Mitch Moreland continues his season long struggle with a .133 average in his last five games.
Familiar Faces: Former Rangers pitcher C.J. Wilson is still on the disabled list and has yet to pitch this year for the Angels' injury ravaged staff, but he seems to be on track to return soon. Former Ranger turned former Angel Josh Hamilton is back with the Rangers but has no sign of being ready to play any time in the foreseeable future, but it's OK since the Angels are paying him 100 percent of his salary this season.
