• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Rangers-Angels Preview

Jul 8, 2009 - 7:23 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Texas (46-36) at Los Angeles (46-36), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Angels haven't taken a series from the Texas Rangers this year, so it's no coincidence that they have been unable to shake the Rangers in the AL West.

If the Angels don't take the decisive game of their latest set against Texas, they'll again be looking up at the Rangers in the standings.

The clubs break their first-place deadlock at Angel Stadium on Wednesday night, with Los Angeles unsure if Vladimir Guerrero will be in the lineup.

Texas jumped out to an early division lead this year, but the Angels (46-36) have won 17 of their last 24 and spent much of the last few weeks in first place in the West - the division they've won four of the last five years.

Their 9-4 victory over the Rangers (46-36) on Monday gave them a one-game lead, but Texas pulled even 24 hours later by winning 8-5. After going 7-12 against the Angels last year, the Rangers lead this season's series 6-2 and can clinch their third straight series win over Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Andruw Jones hit a three-run homer off John Lackey during Texas' six-run fifth inning Tuesday. Jones is batting .239 but has six home runs in his last 54 at-bats.

"They're a good offensive club, and if you miss your spots, they're going to let you know," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

Juan Rivera has been the Angels' biggest power threat lately, hitting two home runs Tuesday to give him 10 in his last 22 games. Los Angeles, however, could be without Guerrero, who left the game with a strained muscle behind his left knee and may not play in the series finale.

Guerrero batted .341 (15 for 44) with three homers and 11 RBIs in his last 12 games.

"This will obviously be a setback if he's not able to get back into the lineup quickly, but we're going to take it one step at a time," Scioscia said. "How long it takes for Vlad to heal is how long it takes. There's not a lot we can do at this point. We're going to have to evaluate him and see."

Injuries have been a concern for Vicente Padilla and Ervin Santana, Wednesday's scheduled starting pitchers.

Texas' Padilla went 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in his last four starts before June 29, when he lost 5-2 to the Angels after allowing five runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings.

He battled through a sore pitching shoulder in that outing, an injury that caused him to be pushed back from his next scheduled start. The Rangers had to activate Dustin Nippert to start Tuesday, but Padilla (6-4, 4.75 ERA) is slated to pitch Wednesday.

Santana's injury problems have been more severe. A 16-game winner in 2008, he has been on the disabled list twice this season with elbow and triceps problems.

After being activated from the DL for the second time, Santana (1-4, 7.43) was ineffective against Baltimore on Friday, allowing six runs - four earned - in five innings of a 6-4 loss. He is 0-2 with a 12.12 ERA in four home starts.

"You can go on rehab assignments - but when you come back here, you've got to find the rhythm. And that's what's going to happen with Santana," Angels outfielder Torii Hunter said. "But you've got to give him at least a couple of starts because he hasn't pitched in a while. He still had good stuff, but right now he's not himself and he's trying to find it."