(My Sportsbook) - The Los Angeles Angels continue to tune up for the postseason this evening, as they start a three-game series with the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The Angels, who are the only team to clinch a postseason berth thus far, avoided a sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, as Joe Saunders tossed seven shutout innings and Los Angeles held on for a 6-4 win.

Saunders (16-7) scattered six hits with four strikeouts and three walks to pick up the win.

Gary Matthews Jr. went 3-for-5, and Kendry Morales, Mike Napoli and Brandon Wood hit back-to-back-to-back solo homers in the seventh inning for the Angels, who have won six of eight overall.

Francisco Rodriguez got the final two outs for his 59th save, extending his MLB record.

Getting the call for the Angels tonight will be right-hander Jon Garland, who has won his last three decisions. Garland won for the second time in as many starts last Saturday against Seattle, surrendering a pair of runs and six hits in six innings to improve to 14-8, while lowering his earned run average to 4.47.

Garland is 1-1 against the Rangers this season and 5-8 lifetime against them with a 5.85 ERA in 19 games, 18 of which have been starts.

Texas will counter with rookie left-hander Matt Harrison, who had the best outing of his young career his last time out. Harrison won his third straight decision last Friday in Oakland, as he tossed a five-hit shutout to run his record to 8-3 this season to go along with a 5.06 ERA.

Harrison defeated the Halos in his major league debut in his only other appearance against them, giving up a pair of runs and five hits in seven frames.

Texas enters this series after taking two of three from the Detroit Tigers, but was denied a sweep in the set on Wednesday, as it was routed 17-4.

Brandon Boggs drove three of the runs in for the Rangers, who have dropped three of five.

Dustin Nippert (3-5) took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings of work. The righty also fanned six batters and walked four.

The Angels have won eight of their 13 matchups with the Rangers this season, including four of the six games contested in Arlington.