Series Thread: Rangers Host the Angels For Three Games September 20-22

[saddles]

Los Angeles Angels (64-83, third in the AL West) vs. Texas Rangers (63-83, fourth in the AL West)

PITCHING PROBABLES: Angels: Patrick Sandoval (5-9, 2.99 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 134 strikeouts); Rangers: Cole Ragans (0-2, 5.68 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 17 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Angels travel to the Texas Rangers looking to stop a four-game road slide.

Texas has gone 30-41 at home and 63-83 overall. The Rangers are third in the AL with 181 total home runs, averaging 1.2 per game.

Los Angeles has a 30-42 record on the road and a 64-83 record overall. The Angels have a 48-12 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.

The matchup Tuesday is the 14th meeting between these teams this season. The Rangers have an 8-5 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Nate Lowe has 24 doubles, three triples, 25 home runs and 71 RBI for the Rangers. Adolis Garcia is 10-for-33 with three doubles, a triple and three home runs over the last 10 games.

Taylor Ward has a .270 batting average to rank third on the Angels, and has 16 doubles, two triples and 18 home runs. Luis Rengifo is 11-for-39 with four home runs and seven RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 4-6, .246 batting average, 5.48 ERA, outscored by 10 runs

Angels: 4-6, .235 batting average, 5.08 ERA, outscored by 11 runs

INJURIES: Rangers: Brad Miller: 60-Day IL (hip), Josh Sborz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Solak: day-to-day (foot), Joe Barlow: 15-Day IL (finger), Spencer Howard: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jon Gray: 15-Day IL (side), Mitch Garver: 60-Day IL (forearm), Eli White: 60-Day IL (wrist)

Angels: Andrew Velazquez: 60-Day IL (foot), David Fletcher: 10-Day IL (hand), Jhonathan Diaz: 60-Day IL (undisclosed), Jared Walsh: 60-Day IL (rib), Archie Bradley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Anthony Rendon: 60-Day IL (wrist), Chris Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Griffin Canning: 60-Day IL (back)

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

The great Ken Rosenthal wrote Monday that the Rangers would need to sign Perez and three other free agents for 2023. Jon Gray is safe, apparently, and the Rangers have a solid core of position players.

Adding four starters (including Perez) seems to be a stretch, even with Rangers owner Ray Davis and general manager Chris Young saying that the Rangers will be contenders next season. The Rangers don't want to clog up their rotation on multiple multi-year contracts, as they still have designs on developing starting pitching and have several candidates.

That's at the core of any rebuilding plan, and Davis remains on board with the direction of the rebuild despite firing Jon Daniels.

Going all-in on pitching would also be a slap in the face to left-hander Cole Ragans, who pitches tonight, and right-hander Dane Dunning, who pitches Wednesday. Glenn Otto, who pitched Sunday, would also be cast aside as nothing more than rotation depth.

While the Rangers have run thin this season on starting pitchers in the minors, they also have a bullpen to address. A series of one-year deals could accomplish a bolstering of the rotation and bullpen, while continuing to let pitching prospects develop.

No matter how many starters the Rangers end up acquiring, Perez should be one of them.

 

[saddles]

The Rangers don't want to clog up their rotation on multiple multi-year contracts, as they still have designs on developing starting pitching and have several candidates.

That's at the core of any rebuilding plan, and Davis remains on board with the direction of the rebuild despite firing Jon Daniels.

Going all-in on pitching would also be a slap in the face to left-hander Cole Ragans, who pitches tonight, and right-hander Dane Dunning, who pitches Wednesday. Glenn Otto, who pitched Sunday, would also be cast aside as nothing more than rotation depth.

Wilson understands this better than most.

 

[Kelleyman]

Wilson understands this better than most.

He had a great podcast with Jim Callis I listened too. He has a better feel for the farm than most of the beat guys

 

[Kelleyman]

Thinking of going out to the Frisco game tonight

 

[saddles]

Thinking of going out to the Frisco game tonight

 

[saddles]

Lol. We aren't the only ones.

 

[saddles]

Position Prospects I Want to See Step Forward in 2023

Foscue
Harris
Crim
Zavala
Duran
Smith
Huff
Wendzel

These are guys who are the closest to being thought of as every day big league players. I want to see 4 or 5 of these guys look so good that management works to find them a place in our lineup going forward.

Who knows, maybe a couple of younger guys like Cater, Saggese, and Acuna do something to put themselves into that conversation as well.

I want to see these pitchers begin 2023 on fire.

Winn
White
Leiter
Englert
Kent
Bradford
Ragans

Every one of these pitchers could either start out at AAA or join the rotation there during the season. It would be great to have a hard decision deciding on who to bring up for the right reasons, instead of it being difficult because there are no good candidates.

Maybe Vanasco and Roby push their way into that conversation by the end of next year.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Jon Gray is hurt AGAIN?!?

 

[saddles]

Jon Gray is hurt AGAIN?!?

I didn't see that. What is wrong now?

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I didn't see that. What is wrong now?

it's in your post

 

[True Rangers Fan]

INJURIES: Rangers: Brad Miller: 60-Day IL (hip), Josh Sborz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Nick Solak: day-to-day (foot), Joe Barlow: 15-Day IL (finger), Spencer Howard: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jon Gray: 15-Day IL (side), Mitch Garver: 60-Day IL (forearm), Eli White: 60-Day IL (wrist)

 

[saddles]

it's in your post

I think when AP put the preview together they must have used an old DL list.

 

[saddles]

I think when AP put the preview together they must have used an old DL list.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I think when AP put the preview together they must have used an old DL list.

well that's a relief. Gray being made of glass is a concern.

 

[saddles]

well that's a relief. Gray being made of glass is a concern.

Well he hasn't had TOS or TJ with us yet, so we might have those to look forward to over the next 3 years.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Well he hasn't had TOS of TJ with us yet, so we might have those to look forward to over the next 3 years.

holding you personally responsible for that

 

[saddles]

holding you personally responsible for that

Is it true that he will have Derek Holland's dog living with him this offseason?

 

[scotsman1948]

From Jeff Wilson:

The great Ken Rosenthal wrote Monday that the Rangers would need to sign Perez and three other free agents for 2023. Jon Gray is safe, apparently, and the Rangers have a solid core of position players.

Adding four starters (including Perez) seems to be a stretch, even with Rangers owner Ray Davis and general manager Chris Young saying that the Rangers will be contenders next season. The Rangers don't want to clog up their rotation on multiple multi-year contracts, as they still have designs on developing starting pitching and have several candidates.

That's at the core of any rebuilding plan, and Davis remains on board with the direction of the rebuild despite firing Jon Daniels.

Going all-in on pitching would also be a slap in the face to left-hander Cole Ragans, who pitches tonight, and right-hander Dane Dunning, who pitches Wednesday. Glenn Otto, who pitched Sunday, would also be cast aside as nothing more than rotation depth.

While the Rangers have run thin this season on starting pitchers in the minors, they also have a bullpen to address. A series of one-year deals could accomplish a bolstering of the rotation and bullpen, while continuing to let pitching prospects develop.

No matter how many starters the Rangers end up acquiring, Perez should be one of them.

Wilson seems to be the only one talking about signing 3 FA starters. all the others are suggesting that they will sign 1 FA pitcher and possibly (that's the important word) trade for another. and a couple of quality reliever types

 

[saddles]

Oddibee McDowell once cut his hand at the annual Welcome Home Luncheon just before the season started. He was buttering a roll when he cut his hand. Maybe we should hire someone to butter Gray's bread.