ARLINGTON, Texas -- The series opener between Texas and the Los Angeles Angels on Monday isnt just a big game for the first-place Rangers.Its also a big deal in Venezuela. The pitching matchup features Texas lefty Martin Perez (10-10, 4.20 ERA) against his countryman, right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (5-8, 5.43 ERA).For Perez though, the game has everything to do with building off his recent success and nothing to do with who his mound opponent is.Perez recorded quality starts in each of his past three outings and is 2-0 with a 1.96 ERA in that span. The start will be his 31st of the season, which is the most of any Texas pitcher and a career high.Perez feels as if he has found his groove after a rough start to the second half of the season.You never have 30 consistent starts, Perez said. I think the first half was good for me. In the second half, Ive faced teams Ive faced before and they know how I pitch and theyve got me. Ive done my adjustment and now I feel great. I just need to continue to throw strikes and attack the zone every time and move the ball and see what happens.One thing that is working well recently for Perez is minimizing damage. In the past, he struggled because of the big inning. He learned from those outings, though, and knows he doesnt have to be perfect every inning to give the Cowboys a chance to win.If I do my job, were going to win, he said. I just want to give my team a chance to win. We dont have time to practice things. Its time to win, and its time to compete. The time for working on things is in spring training. I prepared myself to do this, help my team. I think I did a great job, but I have to stay focused and continue to win.Winning wont be easy against the Angels despite Los Angeles being in last place in the division. The Angels are 8-8 against the Rangers this year, and they have won 20 of their past 35 meetings against Texas.Chacin has been tough on the Rangers, too. He has faced Texas three times this year and has allowed four earned runs in 12 innings. And while Chacin has been bouncing between the bullpen and the rotation, he has excelled in his recent starting action. He has allowed a total of one run in 11 2/3 innings over his past two starts.On Wednesday against the visiting Seattle Mariners, Chacin got an emergency start in place of left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who was scratched because of a sore forearm. In six innings, Chacin gave up just one run on three hits. He didnt walk a batter while striking out five in a 78-pitch outing.Hes doing great, Angels rookie catcher Juan Graterol said of Chacin. Hes always ahead in the count, and he throws everything for strikes.Chacin will take the mound for a last-place Los Angeles team that just beat the playoff hopeful Toronto Blue Jays in consecutive games, 6-1 on Saturday and 4-0 on Sunday. The Angels had lost nine of 10 before those two victories. Cheap Royals Jerseys . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. Royals Jerseys 2019 ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. https://www.cheaproyals.com/ . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Kansas City Royals Shirts . But the quarterback hopes to stay involved in football after officially calling it quits Tuesday. "Id love to look at those opportunities as they arise," Pierce said in an interview from his Winnipeg eatery. Fake Royals Jerseys . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U. DETROIT -- Jose Iglesias is likely to be activated off Detroits disabled list Friday, which will prompt some dexterity in the handling of the situation by Tigers manager Brad Ausmus.Iglesias was scheduled to play for Toledo on Thursday night in a final rehab game with no complications from the left hamstring strain that landed him on the disabled list two weeks back.Theres no guarantees, Ausmus said after Detroit completed a sweep of the Minnesota Twins on Thursday with an 8-5 victory. If his hamstring doesnt feel good he definitely wont be activated (Friday).Detroit hosts the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night for the start of a three-game weekend series. The Angels won the final two contests of a three-game series in Toronto -- their first road victories since July 26.Anytime you play well, you hope your team starts gathering confidence and gaining confidence, Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said prior to Thursdays game. Thats a good club we played and we did a good job on the offensive end. You hope youre going to build confidence with some things you want to do on a regular basis.Were not always going to go out there and (score) eight runs, but we did a lot of good things.The Tigers picked up Erick Aybar, an ex-Angel, earlier this month to help provide some offense to a Detroit team that was struggling.Ausmus is likely to want to take advantage of any extra juice Aybar might get from Los Angeles letting him go to Atlanta prior to this season. The Tigers traded with the Braves to get Aybar.There is some wiggle room and Ausmus is likely to exploit that.He could shift Aybar over to third, where veteran Casey McGehee has been filling in for injured Nick Castellanos, who is likely to be out until mid-September recovering from a broken bone in his left hand. Aybar has made just a couple appearances at third in his career but wouldnt be the first shortstop to move over.Aybar hasnt played much at third, not that he couldnt handle it, Ausmus said.McGehee has supplied some hits but nothing in the way of driving in runs. He may look at matchups with the three to see which two play.Iglesias will get time at short but if Aybar is playing well, its not like were going to not play him, Ausmus said. If hes producing, hes going to play.ddddddddddddIts just going to boil down to who we think is going to help us win. Pretty simple.Detroit brings home a four-game winning streak after taking three in Minnesota.To come into any town and sweep them, its tough to do, Ausmus said. Its just the nature of the game. But our bats started to get hot and the pitching held up.Maybe it was the start of it but Id like to seem them keep rolling. We have Anaheim coming in. Thats how this team is built, its built to slug. Our pitching is solid, especially the second half, but were built to slug and its nice to see it.Justin Verlander (13-7, 3.38 ERA) starts the first game of the series for the Tigers against the Angels Ricky Nolasco (4-11, 5.22 overall; 0-3, 5.70 for Los Angeles).Verlander lost to Los Angeles in his only start against it this season, allowing four runs on four hits in 7 1/3 innings. Over his career, the Angels have handled him for a 5-7 record and 3.77 ERA and he has given up seven home runs to them in his 15 starts.Nolasco was picked up in a deal with Minnesota with manager Scioscias team stripped of starting pitching by injuries. Hes 0-2 in three starts against Detroit this season with a 4.32 ERA.For his career, Nolasco is 2/3 with a 3.86 ERA and the times hes been successful against the Tigers, hes stayed away from his fastball.The injury bug that decimated the Angels rotation has now chomped on the bullpen.Closer Huston Street underwent surgery Tuesday on a knee that has bothered him for months and is through for the season.On Wednesday, Los Angeles learned that Cam Bedrosian, his eventual replacement who hasnt pitched since Aug. 2, has a blood clot in his upper right arm. He will see a specialist to determine the next course of action.I think any time you have a young pitcher that has an issue that is lingering, you want to make sure that you check all the boxes and make sure that everything is taken care of, Scioscia said. Youre always concerned about every player when theyre banged up.Bedrosian had a 1.12 ERA in 40 1/3 innings of relief this season with 51 strikeouts. ' ' '