The Texas Rangers head to Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, August 13, with first pitch scheduled for 10:07 PM ET at Angel Stadium. Jacob deGrom gets the ball for Texas, squaring off against Angels right-hander Walbert Ureña in what shapes up as an intriguing late-night AL West matchup. Rangers Sports Network, presented by Progressive, carries the game for Texas fans, with 105.3 The Fan handling radio duties. This one matters — every game at this point of the season carries real weight in the standings chase.

Starting Pitchers: Jacob deGrom vs. Walbert Ureña

deGrom on the mound is always an event. The Rangers ace has dealt with significant injury history throughout his career in Texas, which means every healthy start he delivers carries added significance for this club. When deGrom is right, he's as dominant as any starter in the American League — a power arm with elite command and the ability to put a lineup away early. How deep he goes and how his stuff is working will be the central storyline of this game.

On the other side, Walbert Ureña gets the assignment for Los Angeles. The Angels will look to their starter to keep the Rangers offense in check and give their lineup a chance to work against one of the game's more formidable arms.

Angels Lineup: Trout Headlines the Order

The Angels are sending out a lineup with some recognizable names. Mike Trout slots in at second in the order, playing center field, and remains the player deGrom and the Texas pitching staff must account for most carefully. Nolan Schanuel hits third at first base, with Vaughn Grissom cleaning up from the hot corner at number four. Moisés Ballesteros catches and hits fifth, followed by Denzer Guzman at shortstop. Josh Lowe, Jose Siri, and Adam Frazier round out the bottom of the order in right field, left field, and second base, respectively. Wade Meckler leads things off as the designated hitter.

Keys to Watch

• deGrom's command and pitch count: If he's locating his fastball and slider early, this could be a short night for the Angels offense. Watch how he handles Trout in their first matchup of the evening.
• Handling Trout: There's no soft way to say it — Mike Trout is the one hitter in this lineup who can single-handedly change the complexion of a game. Pitching around him at the right moments is a necessity.
• Rangers lineup production against Ureña: Texas will need to do damage against Ureña to take pressure off deGrom and build a cushion. Run support matters.
• Bullpen readiness: Should deGrom exit early for any reason, the Rangers' relief corps will need to be sharp on the road in a division game.

Prediction

When deGrom is healthy and dealing, Texas is in a strong position to win any game he starts. He's too talented a pitcher for the Rangers to waste a start, and Angel Stadium, for all its history, is not a house of horrors for a pitcher of his caliber. Expect deGrom to give Texas quality innings, and if the Rangers offense generates even modest run support against Ureña, this one goes to Texas. Rangers win, 4-2.