ARLINGTON, Texas -- Friday's first game of a three-game series between the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels features Yu Darvish and C.J. Wilson. The game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on TXA21 and ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM. A look at the matchup:

PODCAST
Coop and Nate break down Friday's anticipated matchup between Yu Darvish and C.J. Wilson. Listen

Darvish (4-1, 2.54 ERA): This is the seventh start for Darvish, who is 3-1 with a 1.62 ERA in his last five starts, dropping his ERA from its high of 7.94 to 2.54. ... He has four straight quality starts and has pitched at least 5 2/3 innings in each start of his brief big league career. ... He has three consecutive games with at least nine strikeouts. The only other Rangers to do that were Nolan Ryan (four times) and Jim Bibby (once). ... His last outing was his first big league loss as he gave up four runs (three earned) in six innings with 11 strikeouts and four walks against Cleveland. ... The 11 strikeouts were a career-high and he's just the third Texas rookie to have at least 11 K's and the first since Bobby Witt (1986). ... This is his first start vs. LAA and his third home start. He's 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in Arlington and has 12 consecutive scoreless innings at home.

Wilson (4-2, 2.61 ERA): The 31-year-old has six straight quality starts to begin the 2012 season. ... He gave up two runs on six hits with three walks and nine strikeouts in eight innings in a win over Toronto on Saturday. It was his longest outing of the season and the longest since Sept. 11, 2011. ... The former Ranger will be pitching against his old team for the first time. ... He has 39 strikeouts and 15 walks this season and opponents are batting .184 off him. ... In his career at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Wilson is 27-14 with 25 saves (he was a reliever before switching to the rotation prior to the 2010 season) in 172 games (38 starts) with a 3.89 ERA. But none of those 379 1/3 innings came as the visitor.

Hitters: Only four current Rangers have ever faced Wilson. Adrian Beltre is 7-for-19 with three doubles, a homer and three RBIs and Mike Napoli is 4-for-18 with a double and a homer. ... Josh Hamilton does have one at-bat off Wilson and he struck out. ... None of the Angels have faced Darvish.

Up Next:

Sat. vs. LAA: LHP Matt Harrison (4-2, 5.11) vs. RHP Jerome Williams (3-1, 3.38), 12:10 p.m., ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM/1540 AM/FOX
Sun. vs. LAA: RHP Neftali Feliz (2-1, 3.38 ERA) vs. RHP Jered Weaver (5-0, 1.60), 7:05 p.m., ESPN Dallas 103.3 FM/1540 AM/ESPN