Hot-hitting Nathaniel Lowe will be looking to extend his 11-game hitting streak as the Texas Rangers (23-15) match up against the Oakland Athletics (9-31) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Saturday.
The Athletics evened up the series 1-1 after winning 9-7 in 10 innings on Friday, their second head-to-head victory in five games this season. Shintaro Fujinami threw 0.2 scoreless innings in relief to get the win.
Esteury Ruiz went 3 for 5 with a home run, two runs, and four RBIs in the win. Brent Rooker added a home run and a double. He had three RBIs. Robbie Grossman was 2 for 6 with a home run and a double for the Rangers. He had two RBIs.
ON THE MOUND
Jon Gray (2-1, 3.82 ERA) is slated for the start for Texas. The righty allowed one run over seven innings in his last start, a 2-1 road win over the Mariners on Monday.
He got the win, giving up four hits while striking out eight.Gray has made one previous start against the Athletics this season, a 5-4 home loss on April 21.
He surrendered four runs on six hits over 5.1 innings, striking out two and walking five. Left-hander JP Sears (0-3, 5.54 ERA) gets the start for Oakland. He has made one prior start against the Rangers this season, giving up four runs over six innings in a 5-4 road win on April 21.
He gave up five hits and walked two, while striking out 11 in the no-decision. In his last start on Monday, Sears took the loss on the road against the Yankees. He threw 5.1 innings and gave up five runs on six hits, striking out four, in the 7-2 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Texas has averaged only 3.4 runs a game, down from their season average of 6.3, while slashing worse across the board (.244/.289/.364). Against left-handed pitchers like Sears this season, the Rangers have ann .808 OPS, fourth highest in MLB.
Josh Jung has been the team’s biggest slugger against left-handers with a .757 SLG in 27 at-bats. Oakland is averaging only 3.8 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 3.9 for the season.
The A’s have a .679 OPS against righties in 2023. With a 1.031 OPS over 77 at-bats, Rooker has been their best hitter against right-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Texas is 11-9 away from Globe Life Field in 2023, scoring 5.9 runs per game while allowing 4.1 runs. Oakland has gone 4-16 at their home ballpark this season, averaging 3.3 runs per game while surrendering 6.7.
In the last 10 games between the AL West rivals at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, each club has won five, though Texas has the scoring advantage with an average final margin of 5.5-4.3.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Rangers lead the AL West by two games over the Angels. The Athletics are fifth in the AL West, 15 games behind the Rangers.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Texas Rangers (-165)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
