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 2015 season.
The Opponent: The Angels have won two straight games (against last-place Oakland) to improve to 4-6 in their last 10 games. They're hanging around, but a bad series this weekend could all but end their playoff hopes.
Past 2015 Meetings: The Rangers are 4-8 against the Angels this year but won the last series against them, also in Anaheim.
Pitching Matchups: Friday — Martin Perez (2-3, 5.15 ERA) vs. Garrett Richards (12-10, 3.80); Saturday — Derek Holland (2-1, 2.82) vs. Jered Weaver (6-10, 4.94); Sunday — Colby Lewis (14-7, 4.50) vs. Hector Santiago (7-9, 3.37).
What's Hot: Elvis Andrus and Adrian Beltre are each hitting .360 over the last seven days and have combined for eight RBIs in that time. Delino DeShields has hit .345 over the same span after a pretty extended slump for the rookie leadoff hitter. Derek Holland's last outing was a gem — complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts and no walks.
Mike Trout is hitting .333 over the last seven games but has just one RBI during that time. Former Ranger David Murphy is hitting .316 over his last five games. Garrett Richards struck out nine in seven innings his last time out, but he did allow three runs.
What's Not: Colby Lewis gave up six runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings against the Padres on Monday night and is due for another good outing. Rougned Odor's injured finger is still bothering him, and it's shown lately with his .231 batting average over the last three days.
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Jered Weaver and Hector Santiago both struggled terribly their last time out. Weaver allowed eight runs on nine hits over six innings of work, and Santiago made it through just 2 2/3 innings while allowing five runs on four hits. Albert Pujols is hitting just .222 over the last seven games but does have a team-high six RBIs in that time.
Familiar Faces: Josh Hamilton, who's basically nothing more than a pinch-hitter for the Rangers since coming off the disabled list earlier this week, spent two underwhelming years with the Angels following his great run with the Rangers. In April, he was traded back to Texas for pennies on the dollar. David Murphy, the former Rangers fan favorite was traded to the Angels from Cleveland at the trade deadline.
