ANGELS / THE WEEK AHEAD

TODAY VS. SAN DIEGO

Schedule: 1 p.m. today.

* Television: none.

* Radio: KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Pitching matchup: Chuck Finley (5-9, 5.89 ERA) vs. Andy Ashby (8-4, 3.13)

* Last year: The Padres won two of three games. The Angels’ 11-3 victory was rookie pitcher Jarrod Washburn’s fourth consecutive win. He gave up two runs in seven innings.

* About the Padres: The Padres were 13 1/2 games behind in mid-June, then went on a run that brought them within sight of the NL West lead. Tony Gwynn has been slowed by a strained left calf but has returned to the lineup. He has 2,982 hits. Only 21 players have had 3,000 or more hits in their careers.

WED.-THURS. AT TEXAS

* Schedule: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

* Television: Fox Sports West Wednesday; Channel 9 Thursday.

* Radio: KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Pitching matchups: Omar Olivares (8-7, 3.26) vs. Aaron Sele (8-6, 5.45) Wednesday; Steve Sparks (4-6, 5.17) vs. John Burkett (2-4, 5.71) Thursday.

* Last series: The Angels had pulled within 7 1/2 games of the Rangers when the teams played June 28-30. When it was over, the Angels were 10 1/2 back after being outscored, 32-5. The Angels managed only 12 hits during the series against the Rangers’ usually shaky starting pitchers.

* About the Rangers: This is a team that picked up nine victories from 39-year-old Mike Morgan before the All-Star break. He hasn’t won more than nine games in a single season since winning 10 in 1993 for the Cubs. Rick Helling and Aaron Sele, who combined for 39 victories last season, have 14 so far this season. While the starting rotation has been suspect, the bullpen, led by John Wetteland and Jeff Zimmerman, has been one of baseball’s best. Wetteland and Roberto Hernandez of Tampa Bay lead the AL in saves with 27 and Zimmerman is 8-0.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY AT BALTIMORE

* Schedule: 4:30 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

* Television: Channel 9 Friday and Sunday; Channel 11 Saturday.

* Radio: KLAC (570), XPRS (1090).

* Last series: Despite Garret Anderson’s three home runs in three games, the Orioles won twice during a May series in Anaheim. The Angels’ victory was against Scott Erickson, who lost for the first time in seven decisions in Anaheim.

* About the Orioles: The Orioles are an $84-million example that money can’t buy success. They are last in the AL East. Albert Belle has made obscene gestures to fans at home. Third baseman Cal Ripken tops a very short list of “untouchable” players as the trade deadline approaches.