Texas is hot, the champs are swinging the lumber. Plus Michael Lorenzen is starting to roll on the bump. Meanwhile Griffin Canning is not great and is especially vulnerable against good lineups.

The defending World Series champs have won five straight in a desperate move to get back into contention. They rank second in OPS (.823) over the last 15 days, while the Angels rank 27th (.644). Texas starter Michael Lorenzen was an All-Star last season and tossed five scoreless innings last time out vs. Tampa Bay. Look for Texas to get to Griffin Canning (3-9, 4.87 ERA) and send the Halos to their ninth loss in 10 games.

It didn't quite work on the Run Line last night for Texas but it was another win, a fifth in a row, as the Rangers finally seem ready to take flight. Michael Lorenzen returns to Anaheim after making the switch from reliever to starter for the Halos in 2022, and he has consistently given Bruce Bochy five or six serviceable innings, and an ERA at 2.96 since the start of May. He's also off of five shutout innings, allowing one hit, in his last start on July 3 vs. the Rays. Meanwhile, the Angels are slumping again, losing eight of nine, and Griffin Canning struggling on the mound with a 6.97 ERA his last two starts. Play Rangers on Run Line

Texas has won five straight and are climbing up the standings sitting 44-48. They look like they care, something that's been missing. They look like the World Series win is finally in the rear view mirror. Hangover finished. Michael Lorenzen won his last start didn't allow any runs against Tampa Bay for five innings in the 3-0 win. Griffin Canning has allowed four runs in his last two starts. Texas wins.

Griffin Canning is someone we fade quite a bit, and with the Angels fading badly, now seems like a great time to get back aboard. Los Angeles is just 6-12 in Canning's starts, with nine of the losses coming by multiple runs. Michael Lorenzen has been incredibly solid for the Rangers and keeps them in games. It's a small sample size for some, but Texas’ key bats have some strong splits against Canning.