The Los Angeles Angels are not starting their season off on the foot they were hoping to. The team is currently 3-5 and their pitching is getting most of the blame. The starters for Los Angeles have struggled with consistency and power and the results are showing. Now they are hoping to jump back on the right track as they face the Texas Rangers in a Wednesday afternoon game.
The starting pitchers for the Angels are currently putting up a combined 8.14 ERA after recording a 3.15 ERA in the first three games. As a result, the team has dropped their last four of five games. Things were particularly ugly on Tuesday night when Drew Rucinski gave up four runs and four walks in just over two innings of play as the Angels fell 8-2 to the Rangers. Putting the inconsistent Hector Santiago on the mound might not help after he struggled in his debut with the team. He gave up three runs and six hits while throwing 100 pitches in just five innings of play. He is 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA in four starts on the road against the Rangers.
To make matters worse for Los Angeles, their offense has yet to truly get started this season as they are struggling at the plate with a .215 combined batting average. Albert Pujols is just 4 for 27 with two home runs so far this season. He is 0 for 5 in his past 12 games against the Rangers.
Texas is preparing to start Anthony Ranaudo on the mound in place of Derek Holland who suffered a shoulder injury and is now on the 60-day disabled list. He was in the running to be a starter during spring training, but lost the spot to Nick Martinez who also struggled. Ranaudo put up nine runs in 14 innings of play in the spring and the Rangers need him improving off those numbers if they are doing to get back-to-back wins. He went 4-3 with a 4.81 ERA in seven starts for the Boston Red Sox last year and joined Texas as a trade piece.
