Orioles at Rangers
The Texas Rangers would be a playoff team in the American League if the season ended now, and a strong home record is the reason. The Rangers will try to continue their home success when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series.
Texas, which suffered its lone home series loss in a two-game set against Pittsburgh on April 31 and May 1, is 20-9 before its own fans and began an 11-game homestand by taking three of four from the Kansas City Royals over the weekend behind a pitching staff that surrendered a total of five runs in the three victories. The Rangers are getting quality starts and continue to turn things over late in games to right-hander Jesse Chavez, who ran his streak of scoreless appearances to 14 straight with a scoreless ninth inning Sunday. The Orioles (18-41) own the worst record in baseball and are losers of 12 of the last 15 after being outscored by the San Francisco Giants 16-3 in setbacks on Saturday and Sunday. Baltimore will try to bounce back behind right-hander Dylan Bundy while Texas looks to keep rolling behind veteran lefty Drew Smyly.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Baltimore), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (2-6, 4.58 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Drew Smyly (1-3, 6.98)
Bundy allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last five starts and is 2-2 in that span after a disappointing loss last time out. The Oklahoma native held the Detroit Tigers to three runs on seven hits and did not walk a batter while striking out eight in seven innings but got no support in a 3-0 setback. Bundy ran into a similar issue in his lone start at Texas last season, when he surrendered two runs - one earned - in six innings but came away with a loss in the 3-1 final.
Smyly is trying to get in sync with the rest of the staff and was ripped for seven runs on eight hits - two homers - and three walks in five innings at Seattle on Wednesday but escaped without a decision in a game Texas won 8-7. The 29-year-old owns 27 walks in 38 2/3 innings and surrendered 10 homers in that span. Smyly, who spent two seasons in the American League East with the Tampa Bay Rays, is 4-1 with a 3.72 ERA in 10 games (seven starts) against Baltimore.
WALK-OFFS
1. Orioles 1B Chris Davis (hip) is expected to come off the injured list Tuesday.
2. The Rangers placed INF/OF Joey Gallo (oblique) on the 10-day IL on Sunday.
3. Texas RF Nomar Mazara recorded multiple hits in five of the last seven games.