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Game between Rangers, Angels 'can be a refuge for players' after death of L.A. pitcher

Texas Rangers held a moment of silence in memory of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs who died Monday in Texas.

Updated at 5:14 p.m. with comments from Los Angeles Angels.

The Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels will play as scheduled Tuesday night, just one day after pitcher Tyler Skaggs, 27, was found dead in his room at the team's Southlake hotel. 

Monday's game was postponed after the death Skaggs. 

The Angels opted to play as planned Tuesday. 

"The game itself can be a refuge for players," said Angels manager Brad Ausmus. "And I don’t know that sitting in a hotel room would do them any good.” 

Ausmus was visibly upset during a news conference Tuesday while he spoke about Skaggs, who played for the Angels since 2014. 

Players didn't take questions before the game, but they stoically filed into a press room to listen to the organization deliver a statement.

Ausmus said he and the team talked about the late pitcher, listened to his music and discussed “some of the goofy things he did.”

The last picture the team took with Skaggs was on Sunday while traveling to Texas. 

Everyone is wearing Western clothing and cowboy hats. The gimmick, Ausmus said, was spearheaded by Skaggs. 

The Rangers held a moment of silence in the pitcher's memory before Tuesday's game.

The number '45', which was Skaggs' number, was also painted behind the rubber of the mound. 

RELATED: Texas Rangers game postponed after Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs died

Angels GM Billy Eppler said Skaggs was beloved in and out of the clubhouse. 

"He was a staple in our community with all the efforts of the Angels," Eppler said. 

Angels spokesman Adam Chodzko said the team arrived in Texas at 11:30 p.m. Sunday. He didn’t know anything regarding Skaggs’ final interactions or whereabouts before he went to his hotel room. 

Skaggs was found unresponsive in his room around 2 p.m. Monday. Police said foul play is not suspected and suicide has been ruled out per Chodzko. 

The Angels organization is denying that Skaggs died of an overdose. Chodzko said that the MLB is not investigating Skaggs' death at the moment. 

A cause of death has not been released, and the Tarrant County Medical Examiner said Tuesday that a full autopsy won't be available until October. 

Chodzko said that Skaggs' wife and parents are currently in town and that Skaggs' body will be released to them soon. 

The proceeds from the Texas Rangers Foundation raffle Tuesday will be donated to the Angels Baseball Foundation in honor of Skaggs. 

Monday's game has not yet been rescheduled, yet. The Angels are in town through Thursday. 

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