LA Angels vs. Texas Rangers: Three keys to a series win

Apr 28, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias (32) reacts after the third out in the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias (32) reacts after the third out in the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
3 of 3
Next

The LA Angels are set for a two game home series vs. the Texas Rangers starting on Tuesday.

The LA Angels come into the contest with a 20-27 record, and the Rangers sport a 22-27 record.

While neither team is off to the start they want, it’s early, and both are still in it. These AL West division series are huge, and there’s three things that the Rangers do really well. That being said, there are three things that the Angels can do to prevent the Rangers from excelling in their strengths.

The first key to an Angels series victory vs. the Rangers: Don’t bat in the ninth

Obviously, no home team ever wants to bat in the ninth, but it would be a pretty daunting task to do so when playing the Rangers.

Ian Kennedy, the Rangers closer, is tied for the AL lead in saves this year with 11.

Betting on overcoming a deficit in the ninth would be a very poor plan for the Halos. In the last five games that the Angels have batted in the ninth, they have not scored a single run.

It’s simple: The Angels are not very good at hitting in the last inning, and the Rangers are very good at preventing teams from hitting in the last inning.

The rest of the Rangers’ bullpen is a pen they can hit. The rest of their combined ERAs is 4.33, compared to Kennedy’s 1.86. A 4.33 team ERA would place in the bottom third of the American League.

The Rangers starting ERA is 4.39, which ranks in the middle of the pack in the AL.

The Angels need to hit in this series, and their best shot is hitting starting and early relief pitching. If it comes down to trying to win a game with Kennedy on the mound, it’s most likely not going to end very well.

May 23, 2021; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias (32) celebrtes with catcher Kurt Suzuki (24) the 6-5 victory against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
May 23, 2021; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias (32) celebrtes with catcher Kurt Suzuki (24) the 6-5 victory against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

The second key to an LA Angels series victory vs. the Rangers: Keep runners close

The Rangers have some serious wheels on their squad. Only the Kansas City Royals have stolen more bags than them this year.

The Rangers have stolen 34 bases, one less than the Royals, and eight more than the next best team.

They have the second-leading base stealer in the AL, Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Angels starting catcher Kurt Suzuki needs to be on his toes. He’s currently 29th among active catchers in caught stealing percentage at 22.72%. That needs to change if the Angels want to win back-to-back games here.

Suzuki’s going to be tested. If Drew Butera sees time, he needs to step up as well.

He’s been much better at throwing out runners than Suzuki, as his caught stealing percentage is at 30.07%. However, 30.07% places just 18th among active catchers.

Kiner-Falefa has an on-base percentage of .330 this year. He’s batting .290. There’s a good chance he gets on a handful of times this series. Pitchers need to keep him, as well as all runners close.

Along with that, Sukuzi/Butera need to do as much as they can to keep runners from taking those extra bases.

May 22, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) celebrates after he hits his second home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2021; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) celebrates after he hits his second home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

The second key to an LA Angels series victory vs. the Rangers: Keep the outfield from going long

The LA Angels’ outfield loves the longball.

The issue is that the Rangers say the same. The LA Angels are tied for second in the American League with 31 home runs hit by their outfield. They’re tied with two teams in the AL West, the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.

Interestingly enough, the only team ahead of those squads is also in the AL West; the Oakland A’s. Their outfield has hit 35 bombs.

The rest of the Rangers lineup has only hit 27 home runs all season. That’s bad.

They’re not a powerful team if the Angels can take the outfield’s power out of the lineup. Even with the outfielders included, their slugging percentage is .385. That’s barely top 10 in the AL.

They will not hit for a lot of power when their outfield isn’t in it.

The Angels pitching staff has given up 1.49 jacks per nine innings this year, which is the third-most in the AL. That’s not acceptable, and Texas’ outfield will test the Angels.

The Angels’ staff needs to pass that test with a great grade if they want to get two wins in this important series.

They’ll need to keep runners close, and the offense better get their jobs done early in the ballgame.

Is Upton showing signs of hope?. Next

The Angels could easily take two from this Rangers team. If they don’t follow this formula, however, it won’t be a successful series this time around.

Next