Athletics at Rangers
After dropping two straight series at home, the Oakland Athletics began their 10-game road trip by winning two of three against the Los Angeles Angels. The Athletics attempt to continue that success when they visit the Texas Rangers on Friday for the opener of their four-game set.
Stephen Piscotty and Ramon Laureano each drove in a pair of runs, with the former belting a solo homer as Oakland registered a 7-4 victory on Thursday. Texas has won seven of its last nine contests following Thursday's 4-3 triumph over Baltimore. Hunter Pence launched a solo homer while Ronald Guzman went 2-for-3 with an RBI as the Rangers posted their 15th win in 21 contests. Guzman has gotten the month off to a good start, hitting safely in four of his five overall games.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Brett Anderson (6-4, 3.95 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Lance Lynn (7-4, 4.50)
Anderson is expected to make his scheduled start after leaving his outing against Houston on Saturday with an oblique issue. The 31-year-old native of Midland, Texas took the loss in that contest after yielding three runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings. Anderson is 3-4 with a 4.82 ERA in 14 career games (11 starts) versus the Rangers, including a no-decision at Texas on April 14 in which he allowed three runs on two hits and a pair of walks over six frames.
Lynn will attempt to redeem himself after being battered for eight runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings of a loss at Oakland on April 23. It was the first career appearance against the Athletics by the 32-year-old from Indiana, who has won three of his last four overall turns and four straight at home. The most recent victory came against Kansas City on Saturday, when Lynn gave up two runs and six hits over 6 1/3 frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers OF Shin-Soo Choo was kept out of the starting lineup on Thursday due to the bruised left hand he suffered when hit by a pitch the previous night.
2. The Athletics recalled Ryan Dull from Triple-A Las Vegas prior to Thursday's game and optioned fellow RHP Daniel Mengden to the Aviators.
3. Texas is expected to call upon 24-year-old LHP Joe Palumbo to make his major-league debut Saturday and start the opener of its doubleheader against Oakland.