Tonight at 8:05 p.m. ET the Los Angeles Angels (70-49) will open up a three-game set with the last-place Texas Rangers (47-74) as they chase the Oakland Athletics for the AL West crown. Live stream the game by clicking this link; Angels fans can find the radio broadcast on KLAA 830, while Rangers fans may do the same on 103.3 ESPN. The Angles will send Garrett Richards (12-4, 2.54 ERA) to the mound against Nick Martinez (2-8, 5.22 ERA).
Part of the struggles for the Angels the past two seasons has been pitching, but this year Richards has broken out as an ace-caliber hurler. "He should've been an All-Star and I'm pretty sure he's going to have many opportunities," first baseman Albert Pujols said.
"I don't think he's the best in the league yet -- I mean you have guys like (Seattle's Felix Hernandez) -- but he's pretty close, and I don't think it'll be long until this guy has a Cy Young in his hand."
His opponent, Nick Martinez, is a youngster who has struggled to adjust to MLB competition. His poor numbers in the big leagues though don't have the Rangers considering a demotion.
"If you took Nick Martinez to the minor leagues, he would dominate," manager Ron Washington said. "He's making strides, it's just hard to see it up here. Up here it's results-oriented. It's all about numbers. He just has to figure it out. He's got the pitches. He has to learn how to use them."
Martinez thinks the most important pitch is his heater. "It's a tough Angels lineup," Martinez said. "I just have to execute pitches. Commanding my fastball is very key vs. this lineup."
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