Rangers at Reds
While the Texas Rangers find themselves squarely in the thick of the American League playoff race thanks to their strong play over the last month, it's been a season to forget for Rougned Odor. However, the 25-year-old Venezuelan has started showing signs of life at the plate recently and is coming off a memorable effort in a series-opening win in Cincinnati - a performance he'll try to carry over into Saturday when the Rangers continue their three-game set with the Reds.
Odor lifted his season average to .182 - the highest it has been since April 5 - after drawing three walks and going 1-for-2 with his fourth career grand slam in Friday's 7-1 rout, sending Texas to its 20th victory in the last 30 contests to maintain a one-game edge on Boston for the second wild card spot. The second baseman, who batted .120 in April and .172 in May, has tallied at least one hit in four straight and five of his last six games to raise his average for the month to .250. The Reds fell back into a tie with Pittsburgh for last place in the National League Central with its loss in the opener, one day after ending a 58-day stretch in the cellar. Rookie Nick Senzel blasted a solo homer for Cincinnati, which has scored two runs or fewer in seven of 10 games this month.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Mike Minor (5-4, 2.52 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tanner Roark (4-5, 3.74)
Minor is winless in his last four outings but has logged quality starts in four of his past five turns, including Monday's no-decision in Boston in which he held the Red Sox to two runs and fanned six over eight frames. Since surrendering six runs in his season debut on March 28, the former first-round pick has limited the opposition to two runs or fewer in 10 of his 13 trips to the mound. Minor, who has not faced Cincinnati since 2014, is tied for ninth in the AL with 93 strikeouts.
Roark lost for the fourth time in his last five starts last Saturday at Philadelphia, permitting four runs and striking out four while needing 92 pitches to make it through five innings. The 32-year-old has seen his ERA increase more than a half-run over his last two outings after holding the opposition to three or fewer runs in his previous five turns. Elvis Andrus (3-for-7) and Asdrubal Cabrera (6-for-17, three doubles, homer) have fared well against Roark, who is 0-2 despite a 2.08 ERA in two career starts versus the Rangers.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Reds are tied with Kansas City for the fewest homers in June (eight). The Rangers have nine.
2. All six of Senzel's career home runs are solo shots.
3. Texas OF/DH Hunter Pence did not play in the opener but entered Friday with 40 RBIs over his last 39 games - the third-highest total in the majors over that time.