The Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers get set for their second game of a weekend Series at the Ballpark in Arlington

Los Angeles Angels at Texas Rangers

Los Angeles continues its stretch of 20 games in 20 days and is 12-8 on the road this season coming into Saturday’s contest.  The Angels dropped a 4-1 contest to the Rangers in the opener and now hold an all-time record of 12-29 on Friday the 13th, the lowest winning percentage (.309) on the date in MLB history.  “You’ve got to tip your hat to Rangers starter Alexi Ogando,” said Angels hurler Jered Weaver.  “He kept our guys off balance.  He threw s great ballgame.  I would have had to shut them out today.”  The club came into the game leading the Majors in road batting average (.300) and homers (25), averaging 5.4 runs.  Los Angeles was 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position after hitting .361 in those situations the previous eight games.  The club is 9-5 in day games this year.

Angels starting pitcher Dan Haren has tallied a 4-2 record and 1.87 ERA in eight starts this season, but is winless in his last four outings after opening the season 4-0.  Dating back to last season, the right-hander has posted an 8-2 mark with one shutout and a 1.79 ERA in 17 games (16 starts).  In 14 career starts versus the Rangers, Haren has posted a 4-6 record and 3.60 ERA, including a 1.64 ERA in three starts against them in 2010.

Texas continues to battle injuries up and down the roster and got exactly what it needed with a sterling outing from Ogando Friday night.  He is 4-0 on the season and is beginning to look like a complete pitcher after allowing the Angels just a run in 6 1/3 innings, which has carried over from last season’s exceptional effort out of the bullpen with a 1.30 ERA in 44 games.  The Rangers have still won just four of their last 10 home games, but have tallied a 15-8 mark versus the Angels in Arlington since the start of the 2009 campaign.  Texas is 13-12 versus right-handed starters this season.

Rangers starting pitcher Derek Holland is scheduled to make his eighth start tonight, bringing in a 3-1 record and 5.18 ERA.  The left-hander will be working on extended six days’ rest, which has resulted in a 3-1 mark and 4.39 ERA in four other such outings this season.  Holland enters with a perfect 2-0 home record despite having a 7.29 ERA, but has registered no record and 10.13 ERA in his last two starts at Rangers Ballpark.  He has appeared against the Angels more than any other opponent, posting an even 3-3 mark and 5.40 ERA in eight games (five starts).

Bettors will likely back the Rangers due to their 5-0 record in Holland’s last five starts, while the Angels are 4-13 in their last 17 road games versus a left-handed starter.