Heaney looks for repeat success as Rangers visit Angels

Andrew Heaney will start for the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday against the Texas Rangers, hoping for a repeat performance.

In Heaney's most recent start, last Tuesday against the Rangers, he had his best start of the season and possibly the best start of his injury-plagued career. Heaney threw eight innings, allowed one run on four hits, and struck out 14 while not walking a batter. He became only the third Angels pitcher in club history to strike out as many as 14 without issuing a walk (Frank Tanana, 1975, and Dan Haren, 2012).

Because of his injury issues and the fact that he threw 108 pitches in the Texas heat that day, Angels manager Brad Ausmus decided to give Heaney an extra couple days off between starts.

On a regular five-day rotation, Heaney (3-3, 4.31 ERA) would have started Sunday against Houston. Instead, Heaney got Sunday off, and with Monday's off-day, Heaney will start Tuesday on six days' rest, in the hopes he will pick up where he left off against the Rangers.

"I want to finish strong," Heaney said. "I understand I've had a disappointing season and I'm just trying to rectify that any way I can. I know it's late, but better late than never."

Over Heaney's career, however, there have been Rangers hitters who have had success against him. Elvis Andrus is 7 for 20 with two homers against Heaney, and Nomar Mazara is 5 for 14 with three doubles. Mazara, however, is on the injured list with a strained oblique muscle.

Heaney is 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA in nine career starts against Texas.

Left-hander Mike Minor will start for the Rangers, in the midst of having a solid season. He is 11-7 and his 3.17 ERA is best among Rangers starters. However, he is coming off his worst start of the season, last Wednesday against the Angels.

He gave up seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings in a game the Rangers rallied to win, 8-7. Minor also had his best start of the season against the Angels, throwing a three-hit shutout on April 16.

Overall, he is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in four starts against the Angels this season and 3-0 with a 3.61 ERA in nine games (seven starts) against them in his career.

Minor is having such a good season he was the subject of trade rumors as the traded deadline approached, but he survived. He is in the second year of a three-year, $28 million contract with the Rangers.

"I don't want to go anywhere," Minor told mlb.com. "My name was talked about in the offseason, so I'm used to it. It seems like ever since I signed, I've been a topic. It's like I signed here just to be traded."

Angels infielder David Fletcher has hit Minor well, going 7 for 17 with three doubles. Mike Trout is 5 for 19 with one home run against Minor in his career.

--Field Level Media