WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Angels PregameAngels PostgameGamethreadsHalos Heaven PodcastsShohei OhtaniMinor LeaguesInterviewsPregameSeries Preview: Angels @ Rangers (The Great Warmup) New Brett Cecil Jersey ,25commentsAngels head to Texas for a 45 degree warmupPDTShareTweetShareShareSeries Preview: Angels @ Rangers (The Great Warmup) Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsThe Angels will be quite a bit warmer over the next few days after getting snowed out in Chicago on Sunday. Warmer weather will hopefully be good for Mike Trout’s return to the lineup. If the Angels talking heads are to be believed, his injury is minor and he should return to the lineup any day now. Of course, historically it’s been hard to believe those talking heads.Just 8 days ago these two teams finished up a 4 game series which the Angels won 3 games to 1. This time around the Angels face one lefty (Mike Minor) so don’t expect a sweep. Also of note, is due to an odd schedule plus a rainout, the Rangers only played 4 games last week so they are pretty rested, or not as sharp - depending on your perspective.Know your foe:Rangers - who’s hot (last 7 days):Elvis Andrus.556 OBP, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 SBDelino DeShields.463 OBP, 3 SBShin-Soo Choo.467 OBP, 3 doublesWeather ForecastGAME 1 (Jackie Robinson Day!)Pitcher vs. BattersNotable StatsAngels Summary:Trevor Cahill continues to be the standard of consistency on the team, tossing 6 innings in each of his first 3 starts. His velocity has even ticked up a bit - 1 MPH since his first start of the season. This will be his first time facing the Rangers this year. Cahill had a 9.59 ERA against the Ranges in 2018.Pitch Data:Rangers Summary:Shelby Miller hasn’t faced the Angels much in his career aside from last week. It took him 67 pitches to get through 2 innings while giving up 4 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks. Miller has only made 2 starts this year and his last was April 7th against the Angels.Pitch Data:GAME 2Pitcher vs. BattersNotable StatsAngels Summary:Matt Harvey has managed to rack up -0.6 WAR in 3 starts, including a disastrous 8 run and 10 hit outing against the Rangers on April 4th. He didn’t fare much better in his last start http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-marcell-ozuna-jersey , giving up 6 runs over 4.1 innings against the Brewers. Given that the Rangers owned him already this year, hopefully he can figure them out this time around.Pitch Data:Rangers Summary:Mike Minor is a lefty, so you already know how this one is going to turn out. The Cubs weren’t phased by Minor in his season debut but he’s been solid in his last two outings - tossing 14 innings with only 2 runs allowed. In 2018 he won both games against the Angels, allowing 3 runs over 11 innings.Pitch Data:GAME 3Pitcher vs. BattersNotable StatsAngels Summary:Felix Pena has a good looking ERA but he’s worked hard to get there. In 3 starts he has yet to make it through the 5th inning. He faced the Rangers back on April 5th and held them to 4 hits and 1 run with 2 walks and 7 Ks. His last time out he didn’t allow a run but threw 72 pitches in 4 innings with a low 55% strike rate.Pitch Data:Rangers Summary:Despite allowed only 2 runs over 7 innings, Lance Lynn suffered a loss against the Angels on April 5th thanks to a solid start by Felix Pena and scoreless outing by the bullpen. Lynn hasallowed only 3 runs in 13 innings over his last two starts while striking out 14.Pitch Data:Overall Verdict: The Angels have been hitting better (but not great) so could pull off a series win here even without Mike Trout. Don’t expect much in game 2. It’s amazing how poor this team continues to be facing lefties and it is evident it was a problem that Billy Eppler did not fix.Current Standings (sorted by odds)Notes/Credits:(Pitch tracking data from baseballsavant.mlb.com)(Last 5 year splits from FanGraphs Splits Tool)(Standings/odds from fivethirtyeight.com) Pittsburgh Pirates (30-37, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Atlanta Braves (39-29, first in the NL East)Atlanta; Thursday, 12 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Joe Musgrove (4-6, 4.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 58 strikeouts) Braves: Julio Teheran (4-4, 3.03 ERA, 1.19 WHIP Michael Wacha Jersey , 74 strikeouts)Article continues below ...LINE: Braves favored by 1 1/2 runs; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: Pittsburgh enters the matchup as losers of their last six games.The Braves are 19-15 on their home turf. Atlanta’s team on-base percentage of .331 is sixth in the majors. Freddie Freeman leads the lineup with an OBP of .397.The Pirates are 17-19 on the road. The Pittsburgh offense has compiled a .257 batting average as a team this season, good for tenth in the National League. Melky Cabrera leads the team with a mark of .328. The Braves won the last meeting 8-7. Jacob Webb earned his fourth victory and Austin Riley went 3-for-5 with a triple, a home run and three RBIs for Atlanta. Michael Feliz took his third loss for Pittsburgh.TOP PERFORMERS: Freeman leads the Braves with 36 extra base hits and is batting .309. Ronald Acuna Jr. is 14-for-45 with two doubles, four home runs and 11 RBIs over the last 10 games for Atlanta.Josh Bell leads the Pirates with 19 home runs and is batting .325. Starling Marte is 14-for-38 with two doubles, three home runs and seven RBIs over the last 10 games for Pittsburgh.LAST 10 GAMES: Braves: 8-2, .270 batting average, 4.21 ERA, outscored opponents by 19 runsPirates: 2-8, .269 batting average, 6.59 ERA, outscored by 21 runsBraves Injuries: Darren O’Day: 60-day IL (forearm), Kevin Gausman: 10-day IL (foot), Ender Inciarte: 10-day IL (lumbar strain).Pirates Injuries: Trevor Williams: 10-day IL (side) Ozzie Smith Jersey , Jameson Taillon: 60-day IL (elbow), Chris Stratton: 10-day IL (side), Edgar Santana: 60-day IL (elbow), Jordan Lyles: 10-day IL (hamstring), Chad Kuhl: 60-day IL (elbow), Keone Kela: 10-day IL (shoulder), Rookie Davis: 10-day IL (finger), Nick Burdi: 60-day IL (biceps), Lonnie Chisenhall: 60-day IL (finger), Erik Gonzalez: 60-day IL (collarbone), Francisco Cervelli: 10-day IL (concussion).