Anaheim, Calif. (July 10, 2025) – As the Major League Baseball season charges into its second half, the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers prepare to square off in a matchup that will feature two pitchers with vastly different storylines—yet similar stakes. On the mound for the Angels will be Mick Abel Kochanowicz, a towering right-hander looking to rebound from a turbulent sophomore slump. Opposing him is veteran lefty Patrick Corbin, who is quietly putting together a respectable comeback season after a rough stretch of years.
The Angels are hoping that Kochanowicz, once a promising prospect in the organization’s pipeline, can rediscover the form that made him a standout during his rookie campaign. At 6-foot-7 with a heavy 96-mph sinker, Kochanowicz possesses the physical tools to be a frontline starter. But through 18 starts in 2025, the 24-year-old has struggled to find consistency. He enters this contest with a 5.42 ERA and an even more concerning 5.58 FIP—a clear sign that trouble lurks beneath the surface.
Beyond the numbers, the peripheral metrics paint an equally bleak picture. Kochanowicz ranks in the bottom 10% of the league in average exit velocity and strikeout rate, indicating both poor command and a lack of swing-and-miss ability. Even more telling: he hasn’t pitched into the seventh inning since May 26, and he hasn’t allowed fewer than two earned runs in a start since May 16. Still, facing a Rangers offense that has sputtered throughout stretches of the season, this could be the right opponent at the right time for a course correction.
The Texas Rangers: A Team on the Rise
On the other side, Texas will send out Patrick Corbin, a name that just a couple of seasons ago was synonymous with decline. After leading MLB in losses from 2021 to 2023 and routinely ranking near the bottom in hits and earned runs allowed, Corbin has settled into a modest groove in 2025. While he’s no longer the All-Star caliber arm he once was, his 4.18 ERA over 88.1 innings shows marked improvement. He remains durable, often stretching close to 100 pitches every fifth day and giving Texas quality starts more often than not.
The 35-year-old southpaw has evolved his approach, and the results show. His chase rate ranks in the league’s upper quartile, and a reworked sinker—once one of the league’s worst pitches by run value—is now grading as above-average. Corbin has given up either two or three earned runs in 12 of his 16 starts this season, a level of predictability that has added welcome stability to the Rangers’ rotation.
Offensively, the Angels have the edge entering this matchup. Mike Trout is back in form with multiple homers in the series and looks rejuvenated after battling injuries early in the season. Zach Neto continues to develop as a promising bat in the lineup, providing power and plate discipline. When Los Angeles puts runs on the board, they tend to win—owning a 29-8 record in games where they score five or more runs.
That’s where Kochanowicz’s outing becomes vital. The Angels’ bullpen has been one of the league’s worst, ranking third from the bottom in ERA. If Kochanowicz can’t make it through at least six innings, the game could quickly tilt in Texas’ favor—especially since the Rangers’ relievers have quietly excelled, posting a 3.40 ERA, fifth-best in baseball.
Another factor to consider is rest. The Angels are feeling the grind, having not had a day off since June 30. Meanwhile, the Rangers come in with a slight advantage in freshness, having managed their bullpen workload more effectively in recent outings.
Bottom Line
This game may ultimately come down to which starter blinks first. Corbin has the edge in consistency and recent form, but Kochanowicz, with the right command and a bit of run support, could surprise. The Rangers’ bullpen gives them an edge if the game is close late, but the Angels’ offensive firepower—especially if Trout and Neto stay hot—could make this a high-scoring affair.
Expect plenty of traffic on the basepaths and a close contest that could swing on one big inning or one late bullpen meltdown. For Kochanowicz, it’s a chance at redemption. For Corbin and the Rangers, it’s a chance to keep playoff hopes alive.
