The Los Angeles Angels (1-2) are taking their star-studded lineup to Arlington, to take on their fiercest division rival, the Texas Rangers (2-1). The game can be live streamed for free or for a fee with better quality picture.
The Angels dropped two of three to the Cincinnati Reds in their opening series, and must have a good showing in Texas to stave off the memory of last year's slow start. In 2012, the Angels made huge splashes in free agency, bringing in Albert Pujols from the St. Louis Cardinals, and snatching C.J. Wilson from the Rangers. The Rangers chugged along, however, and the Oakland Athletics shocked the baseball world by taking the American League West crown.
This offseason, the Angels doubled down on free agent hires, signing Josh Hamilton away from the Rangers. Their top trio of hitters, Pujols, Hamilton and Mike Trout, are all off to slow starts. Pujols and Hamilton are both hitting under .100, while Trout's at .267 but has no home runs or RBI.
The Rangers, meanwhile, took advantage of the Houston Astros in their opening series, taking two of three and compiling 43 strikeouts along the way. All three starters, Matt Harrison, Yu Darvish and Alexi Ogando set career-highs in that category, with Darvish notching 14 in a perfect game bid that was soiled with one out to go.
The game will mark Hamilton's first time in the Rangers' ballpark since signing with the Angels, and making disparaging comments about Rangers fans on the way out. He called the Dallas-Fort Worth area "not a real baseball town," and said that the fans can "get spoiled pretty quickly."
When asked about the reception he expects to receive Hamilton admitted it might be unfriendly. "I'm not expecting anything I can't handle. I figured I'd try to run out there when Albert (Pujols) is announced before me and as they're booing him, just kind of slide out there behind him so it's not so bad. ... I was booed when I played there. Why would you expect not to be when I'm playing here?"
The Angels will send Jason Vargas to the hill while Texas counters with Derek Holland.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
