Texas Rangers Have Pitching Opening for Los Angeles Angels Series

The Texas Rangers haven't announced starter for Tuesday at the Los Angeles Angels, but are set for Monday and Wednesday.

The Texas Rangers have an open spot in their rotation for their three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels, which starts on Monday in Anaheim.

The American League West-leading Rangers (87-68) – up 2.5 games over the Houston Astros with seven games left – were expecting to slide Martín Pérez into the starting rotation at some point down the stretch.

But the Rangers used Pérez in relief of Nathan Eovaldi in the 9-8 win Sunday over the Seattle Mariners. Pérez threw 1 2/3 innings and gave up a hit, two runs, three walks and struck out one.

It’s unlikely that he’ll be ready to start Tuesday, so the Rangers didn’t list a probable starter for the second game of the series. Cody Bradford and Andrew Heaney are also possibilities.

Martin Perez may be an option to start for the Rangers on Tuesday at the LA Angels / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

For Monday’s opener, the Rangers will go with right-hander Jon Gray (8-8, 4.22) opposite Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval (7-13, 4.19).

It was Gray’s struggles last week, and Pérez’s exquisite performance in relief, that prompted the discussion of moving Pérez into the rotation. But Gray will pitch as scheduled.

In that last start against the Boston Red Sox, he only went 2 1/3 innings, and allowed four hits, four earned runs and one walk. He only struck out one hitter. He has admittedly struggled down the stretch, with an 0-3 record and a 6.46 ERA in his last seven starts.

Sandoval took a no-decision against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, getting tagged for five hits and two earned runs in five innings. He struck out seven and walked three. He has also struggled down the stretch, as he is 1-5 with a 5.34 ERA in his last seven starts.

Whoever starts for the Rangers on Tuesday is likely to face Angels left-hander Reid Detmers (3-10, 4.64).

Detmers pitched just four innings in his last start against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, allowing three hits and no earned runs. He struck out seven and walked two but didn’t figure in the decision.

Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning (11-6, 3.88) and Angels right-hander Griffin Canning (7-7, 4.39) are the matchup for Wednesday’s finale.

Dunning won his last start against Seattle on Friday, throwing 5 1/3 innings. He gave up four hits and four earned runs, striking out two and walking two. He is 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA in his last seven starts.

Canning threw five innings against Tampa Bay on Thursday, giving up three hits and two earned runs in a no-decision. He struck out seven and walked three. He is 1-3 in his last seven games (five starts) with a 4.21 ERA.

All three games of the series start at 8:38 p.m. CT.

After wrapping things up in Anaheim, Texas will play Seattle in a four-game series to end the regular season.

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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