The Texas Rangers have made their big move by acquiring Matt Garza from the Chicago Cubs and with the Los Angeles Angels sitting just out of playoff contention, there is chance they will make a move after losing Albert Pujols to a foot injury and the two teams will get a look at each other close to the deadline as they start a series on Monday in Arlington.
The Angels have not had the season they imagined when they signed Josh Hamilton and now they will put up their best starter in Jered Weaver as he takes on Garza on Monday night. The Rangers have been dealing with some bad play of late as well, losing 12 of 15 games to fall back six games in the AL West and they have been struggling to score runs mightily, which is prompting discussion on the trade market.
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The team has gone 21 innings without scoring and they were swept by the Indians after being shutout 1-0 on Saturday and 6-0 on Sunday. Ron Washington has tried to light a spark for the team, while the Angels have lost theirs apparently after Pujols went down and now basically it is Mike Trout and eight other dudes trying to get things done. Pujols could be out for the season with his injury and since the Angels have won just 48 games, it looks likely that they will miss the playoffs again, something they did not think would happen after signing Pujols and Hamilton in successive seasons.
Weaver has been a saving grace for the team at 5-5 and a sub-3.00 ERA and without him the team would be nowhere, as he has gone 4-1 with a 1.32 ERA over his last six starts and the team is hoping to do so again on Monday night. Weaver previously struggled against the Rangers earlier in the season, but the way he is p[itching now bodes well for the Angels going forward. Manager Mike Scioscia said the team would be down but not out without Pujols and they will have to do it against Garza, who has pitched well himself, going 7-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 12 overall starts with Texas and the Cubs.
