Athletics at Rangers
The Oakland Athletics' road trip got off to a bad start, but the team has turned things around thanks to its offense. Oakland seeks its fifth straight victory when it continues its three-game series against the host Texas Rangers on Saturday.
The Athletics began their 10-game trek with four consecutive losses, but their bats have erupted to produce 39 runs during a four-game winning streak that includes Friday's series-opening 8-6 triumph. Reigning home run champion Khris Davis has been a major contributor, hitting five shots over his last three games to increase his season total to a league-leading 10. Texas has lost five of its last six contests after squandering a 6-1 lead on Friday in the opener of its nine-game homestand. Elvis Andrus went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer in the setback as he registered his third consecutive multi-hit performance and eighth in 13 games this year.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Southwest Plus (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Marco Estrada (0-1, 4.87 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Adrian Sampson (0-1, 1.86)
Estrada looks to bounce back from a rough outing at Baltimore on Monday in which he was tagged for six runs and nine hits in four innings en route to a loss. The 35-year-old from Mexico had yielded six runs - five earned - over 16 1/3 frames in his first three turns of the season. Estrada has made seven career starts against Texas, going 3-1 with a 3.40 ERA.
Sampson will be making his first start of the campaign after allowing two runs on eight hits and four walks over 9 2/3 innings in two relief appearances. The 27-year-old native of Washington is in search of his first major-league victory as he is 0-5 with a 4.10 ERA in eight career games (five starts). Sampson made his only appearance against Oakland in relief on Sept. 7, when he surrendered three runs - two earned - and four hits while retiring just one batter.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rangers signed RHP David Carpenter, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 2015 with Washington, to a minor-league contract.
2. Oakland agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with RHP Edwin Jackson, who went 6-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 17 starts with the team last season.
3. Texas RHP Edinson Volquez (elbow), who is on the injured list, will not throw for four to six weeks.