Things seem to be cooling off for the Los Angeles Angels. Before the impending Code Red could be issued, the Angels are snapping out of its month long slump just in time for a crucial series against the Texas Rangers this weekend. Albert Pujols isn’t going the whole season homerless after all and Los Angeles has won seven of its last 10 to get back to a respectable 14-18.

But to gain any traction in the division, beating the Rangers heads up is an absolute necessity, and the Angels get their first crack tonight.

Texas has been baseball’s best team for a while now after winning each of its first seven series’. Josh Hamilton’s monsterous performance on Tuesday was the highlight of an impressive series win over the Baltimore Orioles, and the defending AL champs have a seven-game lead up on the Angels.

After Hamilton’s four-homer night against Baltimore, the outfielder leads the majors in batting average (.395), home runs (15) and (38). He is 8 for his last 16 with, six of them homers with 12 RBI.

The Angels’ headliner? Pujols is still wading in a .198 batting average and one homer.

At least Los Angeles’ other big investment has paid off. C.J. Wilson gets the ball tonight to face his former team after winning two-straight. He’s struck out 24 batters in his last three outings, including nine in an eight-inning gem Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

“We know it’s going to be a challenge, but we’re certainly not going crazy over facing C.J.,” Rangers manager Ron Washington told the Associated Press. “We’re going to go out there and do the best we can against him.”

Wilson spent his entire career in Texas, going 31-15 over his last two seasons as the team’s ace before defecting to the Angels.

“We’ll be playing in front of a huge crowd in a stadium that’s relatively hostile to our team,” Wilson said. “I’m sure it’ll be fairly hostile to me personally. … Hey, they even booed me there when I was a reliever. The main objective is just focusing on the baseball aspect of it.”

He’ll face off against Yu Darvish, a Japanese import signed to replace Wilson, who is also proving to be worth the money. With over $100 invested in him, Darvish has settled into his jersey, going 4-1 with a 2.54 ERA. He lost for the first time against Cleveland last weekend, but was still good, giving up just three runs in six innings, while striking out a season-high 11 hitters.

“I don’t get to face him. I would be very prepared for his repertoire of fastballs, curveballs and splitters. … I would be focusing a lot on that if it was the National League, but it’s not,” Wilson told the AP. “My job is to face Nelson (Cruz), and Mike Young and Josh Hamilton. Who I pitch against means nothing.”

Bovada’s Angels vs. Rangers Series Price is giving Texas a -170 line to win the weekend set, compared to Los Angeles’ +140.

Bovada’s Angels vs. Rangers Betting Lines are favoring Texas by 1 1/2 runs with a -155 moneyline.