The Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers meet Thursday in MLB action from globe Life Field. This will be the finale in a four-game series this week. The Angels won the first pair, then on Wednesday the Rangers powered out a victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Los Angeles Angels 

The Angels managed a 9-6 win in the Monday opener of this set, then took a 7-3 win in the Tuesday matchup. On Wednesday Los Angeles gave up five runs across the seventh and eighth in a 6-3 loss. Reid Detmers managed 6.0 innings in the start with one earned on three hits and three walks. 

For the starter job in the Thursday game the Angels will go with Shohei Ohtani. This year over his 13 starts Ohtani is 5-2 with a 3.32 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 76.0 innings. Ohtani is 33-16 with a 3.02 ERA in 76 career starts. 

Texas Rangers 

Over on the Rangers’ side, they had a brief 3-1 lead in the Tuesday matchup but couldn’t hold it. On Wednesday Texas had nine team hits in the win. Starter Andrew Heaney managed 3.2 innings, one earned, five hits and four walks.

Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for the Rangers on Thursday. This year across his 13 starts Eovaldi is 9-2 with a 2.49 ERA and 83 Ks in 86.2 innings. Eovaldi is 76-70 with a 4.05 ERA in 253 career games (234 starts). 

The Angels are 4-0 in their last four in game four of a series and 4-1 in their last five Thursday games. The over is 6-1 in LA’s last seven in game four of a series. 

Meanwhile, the Rangers are 5-1 in their last six in game four of a series and 10-4 in their last 14 versus the AL West. The over is 6-2 in Texas’ last eight Thursday games. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll try the Rangers here. This will be a very interesting starter matchup, though. Eovaldi was a little sketchy (6.1 innings; four earned) in his last start, but over his last trio he’s 3-0 with four earned in 17.1 combined innings. As for Ohtani, he’s given up seven earned over his last two starts in 11.0 innings but should do well here. On Wednesday Texas didn’t get going until the seventh inning offensively, but the middle relief did a great job in preserving the eventual victory. I think the Rangers will finish off with a win.