Rangers at Athletics
The Oakland Athletics look to post consecutive victories for the first time this season when they host the American League West-rival Texas Rangers on Thursday afternoon for the finale of their four-game set. Oakland hopes to win the series as it cruised to a 6-2 win on Wednesday after splitting the first two contests.
Jed Lowrie recorded two hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Athletics, who embark on an eight-game road trip following Thursday's contest. Matt Chapman has gotten off to a fine start at the plate for Oakland as he brings a six-game hitting streak into Thursday's meeting and has posted three straight multi-hit performances. Texas managed only four hits on Wednesday - including two by Nomar Mazara, who has gone 5-for-10 over the first three games of the series. Elvis Andrus recorded a single in the setback after having his season-opening five-game hitting streak halted on Tuesday but has registered only two RBIs thus far.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Martin Perez (2017: 13-12, 4.82 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (0-1, 7.94)
Two days after celebrating his 27th birthday, Perez will be activated from the disabled list to make his season debut. The Venezuelan left-hander, who went 8-2 with a 3.71 ERA over his final 11 turns of 2017, has been recovering from a broken radial bone in his right elbow. Perez has made 16 career starts against Oakland, going 7-7 with one shutout and a 5.24 ERA.
Mengden did not fare well in his season debut on Sunday as he was tagged for six runs - five earned - and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of a loss to the Los Angeles Angels. On the positive side, the 25-year-old Texan issued just one walk and registered five strikeouts without serving up a home run. Mengden, who is 1-1 with a 2.50 ERA in three career starts against Texas, has yet to win at home as he is 0-9 with a 6.57 ERA in 12 turns at Oakland Coliseum.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre played in his 2,821st career game on Wednesday, passing Reggie Jackson for 21st place on the all-time list.
2. Oakland OF Matt Joyce returned to the lineup Wednesday after receiving a day off to rest his sore left ankle and went 1-for-4 while scoring a run.
3. Texas RHP Tim Lincecum (finger) threw his third bullpen session in five days on Wednesday without any issues.