MLB Baseball: Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Angels Preview, Prediction & Odds - Sept. 3, 2021

Game time: 9:38 p.m. ET

Venue: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA

Where to watch: Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports West

DraftKings: Angels -225, Rangers +185; Over 8.5 -105, Under 8.5 -115

BetMGM: Angels -208, Rangers +170

Caesars: Angels -213, Rangers +193

Rangers: 47-86 (Last place, AL West)

Angels: 66-68 (4th place, AL West)

Rangers: 4-6 in last 10

Angels: 4-6 in last 10

It’s just like the Texas Rangers to give fans hope and go on a little winning streak, only to implode in the ninth inning like they did against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

And Friday won’t be any more fun against the Los Angeles Angels. Because not only is Shohei Ohtani hitting that day, he’ll be pitching against the last-place Rangers at Angel Stadium in a battle of the two worst teams in the American League West.

Ohtani was scratched from his start Tuesday against the New York Yankees so that he could rest his right hand after it being hit by a pitch the day prior.

The season Ohtani has put together with 42 home runs and nearly 100 RBI is already one of the more memorable statlines from an Angels player not named Mike Trout. But the pitching aspect has just been tremendous. You look around the league and see so many starting pitchers having ERAs over 4.00 and still hanging on to a rotation spot.

Ohtani is over here with an 8-1 record and has a 3.00 ERA, and 127 strikeouts. Not only has he been one of the hardest outs in baseball, but he’s mowing people down throughout this whole season. Tack on a WHIP of 1.06, and it’s just mind-boggling what he’s doing.

The Rangers will send young pitcher Glenn Otto to the mound to face the Angels hitters for his second start. Last time out as the Rangers starter, Otto went five scoreless innings and had seven strikeouts Aug. 27 against the Houston Astros. Unfortunately, the Texas bullpen let him down and it ended up a loss.

This is a great spot for the Angels to get back in the win column after an impressive stretch against the Yankees. And anytime Ohtani pitches, or is even slugging, it’s bound to be a show.

If the Rangers were half as good on the road as they were at home, it’d be a much better season. Texas is 16-49 away from Globe Life Field as a heavy underdog, and with Ohtani at center stage, it should be a moment to fire up the Angels. Angels win 7-1.

The Rangers are 8-25 (-9.1 net games) when an underdog of +175 to +250.

Los Angeles is 16-9 when the money line favors them at -150 or more, 9-2 when it’s between -175 and -250.

Rangers: Such a dull season is in need of bright spots. Adolis Garcia is one of them. The Texas rookie is one homer from 30.

Angels: Focusing on the mound slightly, Shohei Ohtani has gone at least six innings in six of his last seven starts; he lasted only five in his last start, a loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 25.

Leody Taveras (S) CF

Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) SS

Adolis Garcia (R) RF

DJ Peters (R) LF

Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B

Nick Solak (R) 2B

Charlie Culberson (R) 3B

Yohel Pozo (R) DH

Jose Trevino (R) C

David Fletcher (R) 2B

Shohei Ohtani (L) DH

Phil Gosselin (R) 3B

Jared Walsh (L) 1B

Justin Upton (R) LF

Brandon Marsh (L) CF

Max Stassi (R) C

Jo Adell (R) RF

Jack Mayfield (R) SS

Probable starting pitchers: Glenn Otto (TEX) vs. Shohei Ohtani (LAA)

Batting average: Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.263)

Hits: Isiah Kiner-Falefa (140)

Home runs: Adolis Garcia (29)

RBI: Adolis Garcia (77)

Stolen bases: Isiah Kiner-Falefa (16)

Wins: Jordan Lyles (7)

Saves: Joe Barlow (3)

ERA: Jordan Lyles (5.63)

Batting average: David Fletcher (.291)

Hits: David Fletcher (152)

Home runs: Shohei Ohtani (42)

RBI: Shohei Ohtani (90)

Stolen bases: Shohei Ohtani (22)

Wins: Shohei Ohtani (8)

Saves: Raisel Iglesias (29)

ERA: Shohei Ohtani (3.00)