Rangers at Athletics
A day after halting their three-game slide, the Texas Rangers look to post back-to-back wins for the first time this season when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday for the third contest of their four-game series. Texas' Nos. 5-7 hitters combined for six hits and three RBIs while Joey Gallo homered as the team recorded a 4-1 triumph.
Gallo has gone deep twice in his first six games of the season after belting 41 homers over 145 contests last year in his first full major-league campaign. Rangers slugger Adrian Beltre recorded his 3,053rd career hit on Tuesday, tying him with Rod Carew for both 25th place on the all-time list and first among players from Latin America. Chad Pinder doubled and homered for the Athletics, who have lost four of five since winning on Opening Day. Since going hitless over four at-bats in his season debut, Oakland's Matt Chapman is 8-for-18 during his five-game hitting streak.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Southwest Plus (Texas), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Doug Fister (1-0, 1.80) vs. Athletics LH Sean Manaea (0-1, 1.17)
Fister got his season off to a good start on Friday, limiting Houston to one run and four hits over five innings en route to victory. The 34-year-old Californian struggled last season in Boston, where he went 5-9 with a 4.88 ERA in 18 games (15 starts). Fister owns an 8-8 record and 3.28 ERA in 18 career turns against the Athletics.
Manaea also had a strong season debut as he held the Los Angeles Angels to one run and four hits over 7 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old native of Indiana struck out seven without walking a batter, with his only hiccup being a first-inning solo homer by Mike Trout. Manaea has made seven career starts against Texas, going 3-2 with a 3.98 ERA while recording 41 strikeouts in 40 2/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers RHP Tony Barnette (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco in the coming days.
2. Oakland OF Matt Joyce is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday after receiving a day off to rest his sore left ankle.
3. Texas signed C Cameron Rupp to a minor-league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Round Rock.