The Texas Rangers travel to Anaheim to face the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, August 13, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 10:07 PM ET at Angel Stadium. Jacob deGrom gets the ball for Texas in what is one of the marquee individual pitching matchups the Rangers can put on the field. The Angels counter with Walbert Ureña. This is a late-August road game against a division rival, and with the AL West standings always carrying weight this time of year, the Rangers need to treat every win in California as a priority.
Probable Pitchers: Jacob deGrom vs. Walbert Ureña
The story on the mound tonight starts and ends with deGrom. When healthy and locked in, he is one of the most dominant starting pitchers in baseball — a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner who came to Arlington to help Texas win championships. The Rangers built around him for exactly games like this: road starts against divisional opponents in August, when the schedule tightens and every rotation spot matters.
The Angels will send Walbert Ureña to the hill. Ureña is a young arm still carving out his place at the major league level. How he handles a Rangers lineup in a night game at Angel Stadium will tell us something about where he is in that development.
Keys to Watch for the Rangers
- deGrom's command and pitch count: When deGrom is efficient — working deep into games with his curveball and slider operating — the Rangers are extremely difficult to beat. Watch how quickly he establishes the strike zone early in the game.
- Capitalizing against a young starter: The Rangers' lineup needs to work Ureña early, run up his pitch count, and not let him settle into a rhythm. Patient at-bats in the first two turns through the order could open the game up.
- Bullpen protection: If deGrom goes six or seven strong, the Rangers need a clean handoff to the late-inning relievers. Preserving the bullpen arms Texas trusts most will matter as the week continues.
- Road performance: Angel Stadium is a comfortable enough environment, but the Rangers have to show they can take care of business on the road in August. A win here carries weight.
Prediction
This one sets up well for Texas. DeGrom against a developing Angel starter in a late-evening West Coast game is the kind of matchup the Rangers should win. The lineup needs to do its part against Ureña early, but if deGrom is anywhere close to his best form, Texas has a quality chance to take this game on the road. Rangers win, 4-2.
Catch the game on Rangers Sports Network, presented by Progressive, or tune in on 105.3 The Fan.
