Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Venue: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
First Pitch: 9:38 p.m. ET
Broadcast: ESPN, Bally Sports Southwest, Bally Sports West
Team Overview & Recent Form
| Team | Record | Last 5 Games | Road/Home Split |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Rangers | 45–47 | W-L-L-W-W | 19–28 (Road) |
| Los Angeles Angels | 44–47 | L-W-W-L-L | 21–21 (Home) |
- Rangers bounced back from a Game 1 loss with a dominant 13–1 win on Tuesday, led by Wyatt Langford and Jake Burger’s combined 8 RBI.
- Angels continue to struggle with consistency, especially in run prevention, allowing 13 runs in Game 2.
Pitching Matchup
| Pitcher | Team | Record | ERA | WHIP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kumar Rocker | Rangers | 3–4 | 5.80 | 1.49 | Allowed ≤2 ER in last 4 starts; 7 IP, 3 ER vs. Angels earlier this season |
| Kyle Hendricks | Angels | 5–6 | 4.68 | 1.27 | 3.21 ERA in June; hasn’t allowed >3 ER in last 5 starts |
Both starters have shown improvement recently, but Rocker’s strikeout potential and Hendricks’ control set up a compelling duel.
Key Players to Watch
Texas Rangers
- Wyatt Langford: 13 HR, 4 RBI in Tuesday’s win; batting cleanup
- Jake Burger: 4 RBI in Game 2; emerging power bat
- Marcus Semien: 11 doubles, 9 HR; veteran leadership in middle infield
Los Angeles Angels
- Taylor Ward: 20 HR, 59 RBI; top 15 in MLB for both categories
- Nolan Schanuel: .261 AVG, 16 doubles; consistent OBP threat
- Jo Adell: 19 HR, 10 doubles; power bat with defensive upside
Statistical Comparison
| Category | Rangers | Angels |
|---|---|---|
| Team ERA | 3.27 (1st MLB) | 4.47 (24th MLB) |
| Batting Average | .228 | .229 |
| Home Runs | 90 | 129 (5th MLB) |
| OBP | .296 | .299 |
| Bullpen WHIP | 1.17 (2nd MLB) | 1.43 (28th MLB) |
Texas boasts elite pitching, while the Angels rely heavily on home run production to stay competitive.
The Rangers have won 9 of the last 10 head-to-head matchups, including 4 of 5 this season. With Rocker trending upward and Texas’ bullpen ranking among the best in MLB, they’re well-positioned to take the series. Hendricks could keep it close early, but the Angels’ inconsistent offense and shaky relief pitching may prove costly.
Game Odds
Texas Rangers – 130
Los Angeles Angels 9
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Tuesday, July 8, 2025
