MLB Game Preview - LA Angels at Texas

Mon Aug 19, 2019 8:05 PM EDT

After getting swept at home in a four-game series by the Minnesota Twins for the first time in team history, Texas pitcher Lance Lynn was asked how the Rangers, losers of 10 of their last 12 games, move forward.

"There's one on the schedule tomorrow," Lynn replied. "That's how you move on. You have to."

The Rangers, who have dropped to fourth place in the American League West thanks to a 10-22 stretch, open a four-games-in-three-days series against the team one game ahead of them in the standings, the Los Angeles Angels, on Monday night in Arlington, Texas.

Left-hander Kolby Allard (1-0, 4.50 ERA), obtained from the Atlanta Braves in a trade-deadline swap for reliever Chris Martin, will make his third start for the Rangers since being called up from Triple-A. He will go against left-hander Dillon Peters (3-1, 3.38).

The 22-year-old Allard comes in off a 7-3 victory at Toronto on Wednesday, when he allowed three runs on four hits and three walks over 5 2/3 innings while striking out five.

"It was fun to watch him pitch," Texas manager Chris Woodward told MLB.com afterward. "He reminds me a little of Mark Buehrle, the tempo at which he pitches. He gets the ball and then he'll go. I know our infielders and our defense appreciate that. He attacks the strike zone."

With temperatures expected to be hovering around 100 degrees again at game time, Allard will no doubt be even more popular among his Texas teammates.

"I love the way he pitches," shortstop Elvis Andrus said. "He knows what he wants to throw in different situations, he always had a plan, and I love that. It's (rare) to see from a young guy. He's really aggressive, he knows what he needs to do, what he needs to establish early in the game."

The 26-year-old Peters, obtained from the Miami Marlins for right-handed pitcher Tyler Stevens last November, will be making his fifth start for the Angels and first against the Rangers. He did pitch 1 1/3 innings of relief against Texas in a 5-0 loss on April 16 and allowed two hits, including a solo home run by Joey Gallo.

Peters will have a tough act to follow after rookie right-hander Griffin Canning allowed just five hits and one run over seven innings while striking out eight in a 9-2 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday, the fourth win in five games for the Angels.

"This may be his best outing," Los Angeles manager Brad Ausmus said. "His pitch count was real low, not a lot of hard contact, used all four pitches really well. His changeup was strong today ... when all four of his pitches are working, he's a tough pitcher to face."

Woodward said his team, which allowed 35 runs in the four losses to the Twins and was hampered at times by sloppy defense and base-running blunders, must learn from its mistakes.

"It's tough," Woodward said. "We're at the point that we're addressing things but at the same time trying to remain positive and keep pushing. Our guys are fighting. They're not trying to lose."

--Field Level Media