MLB Betting: Rangers host Angels in finale

Nelson Cruz had a 13-game hit streak intact entering Sunday’s game.

The Los Angeles Angels can’t afford to lose much more ground in the AL West when they play at the Texas Rangers on Sunday night.

The second-place Angels (51-48) are a dangerous seven games back of Texas in the division. That’s after losing the first two games of the series, 3-2 in Thursday's opener and 1-0 in Game 2 on Friday. The Saturday night result is still pending.

Los Angeles is just 2-10 in its last 12 road games, and 1-4 in its last five overall.

Guaranteed MLB Picks

The Rangers (57-40) are 7-2 to start the second half. Cliff Lee got his first win with the team on Thursday night, out-dueling Jered Weaver. Lee’s acquisition from Seattle is a big boost to team morale as it shows management is committed to winning.

Lee now tops the rotation and gives Texas four solid starters along with C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter. They’ve pitched the last four games, with Texas allowing 1.5 runs per contest. Neftali Feliz closed both games this series and has converted 18-straight save opportunities.

The ‘under’ is 4-0 in Texas’ last four games and 9-2 in its last 11.

Hunter (7-0, 2.09 ERA) has been a great story. His first MLB start this year was June 5 due to an oblique injury. He’s made nine starts and eight have been quality ones. He did have to depart after 2 1/3 innings on June 16 with a hip flexor. Texas is 8-1 in his starts.

The 24-year-old righty was 9-6 last year with a respectable 4.10 ERA. His strikeout rate (4.98) is not very impressive, but batters have just a .623 OPS against him this year.

Hunter has two career starts against the Angels (0-2, 9.82 ERA), both last year.  He pitched decently in the home start on Sep. 18, two earned runs over five innings. He got bombed in L.A. 10 days later, six earned in 2 1/3 innings.

Los Angeles’ Trevor Bell (1-1, 6.05 ERA) will make his first start of the year. He has 15 relief appearances with the Angels sandwiched around two stints in the minors. He got a loss in relief at Texas on May 18.

The 23-year-old righty went 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in six starts at Triple-A Salt Lake this year. He was 1-1 with a 10.80 ERA in four starts with the Angels last year. However, he wasn’t that horrible in the first two outings (5.90 ERA).

Baseball Betting Odds

Texas is 4-0 at home against the Angels this year and 10-3 in the last 13 at home against them. The ‘under’ is 3-0-1 in the last four meetings overall.

Los Angeles’ Scott Kazmir (shoulder) could return next week, sending Bell back to the bullpen.

Texas backup catcher Matt Treanor hurt his knee on Friday. Veteran Bengie Molina was recently acquired from San Francisco and could start seeing even more playing time.

Greg Gibson will call balls and strikes. The home team is 19-7 in his last 26 games behind home plate. The ‘under’ is 17-6-4 in his last 27 behind the dish.

First pitch on Sunday is 5:05 p.m. (PT). Weather will be around 90 degrees with an isolated thunderstorm.

The Angels will start a home series with Boston on Monday. Texas gets a day off before welcoming Oakland on Tuesday.