MLB Predictions: Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels

The Texas Rangers (35-38) and Los Angeles Angels (39-33) will continue an American League West series Saturday night at Angel Stadium, with the first pitch scheduled for 10:05 p.m. ET

Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles Angels SP Jered Weaver has dominated the Texas Rangers in Southern California

Texas has dropped three games in a row, including a 7-3 setback to Los Angeles as +169 road underdogs Friday, while going OVER the betting total for a third time in four contests. The Rangers need their pitching staff to perform at a higher level, as their starting pitchers have completed 6.1 innings or fewer in 14 of the club’s last 16 affairs. Texas is 16-15 versus division opponents this season, with the UNDER going 15-14-2 in that situation.

Rangers starting pitcher Nick Martinez (1-4, 4.44 ERA) will look to snap a personal three-game losing streak, which includes a 5-1 road defeat to the Seattle Mariners Sunday—giving up two runs and nine hits over six frames. The right-hander is 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA in eight road appearances (five starts), with opposing hitters batting .314 against him. Martinez threw 2.2 scoreless innings of relief versus the Angels on May 4.

Los Angeles has alternated wins and losses over its last four contests, with the betting total following that pattern. The Angels’ bullpen has been a disaster recently, with the group compiling a 4.46 ERA on the season, while closer Ernesto Frieri enters this matchup with a 5.83 ERA due to giving up eight home runs in 29.1 frames. Offensively, outfielder Mike Trout is the first player in history with at least 300 runs, 75 home runs and 75 steals in his first 400 games played. Los Angeles is 15-5 at home with a betting total of 8 to 8.5.

Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver (7-6, 3.67 ERA) has dropped back-to-back trips to the mound, including a 4-3 setback on the road to the Cleveland Indians in his last outing—surrendering four runs and five hits over six innings of work. The right-hander is 4-3 with a 3.19 ERA in eight home games, with opposing hitters batting .205 against him. Weaver is 9-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 14 career home starts versus the Rangers.