Rangers at Indians
The Texas Rangers may have a difficult time climbing all the way back into the American League wild-card race, but they have a chance to match their longest winning streak of the season when they visit the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday. The Rangers have won five in a row after Mike Minor and two relievers combined on an eight-hitter in Monday's series-opening 1-0 victory.
Nomar Mazara extended his hitting streak to eight contests (13-for-30, two homers, six RBIs) with a single and drove in the only run with a sacrifice fly as Texas moved within one win of matching its six-game run from June 22-28. Ariel Jurado will try to keep it going for the Rangers when he takes the mound on Tuesday opposite rookie Zach Plesac, who aims for his fourth straight victory in his 13th major-league start. The AL wild card-leading Indians went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position on Monday and stranded eight baserunners, leaving the tying run at third in the ninth inning en route to just their sixth loss in 22 contests. Jason Kipnis, who grounded to first for the second out of the ninth, extended his hitting streak to six games (9-for-23, three homers, nine RBIs) with a single in the series opener.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), SportsTime Ohio (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Ariel Jurado (6-6, 4.92 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach Plesac (6-3, 3.41)
Jurado has posted just one victory in his last six outings after giving up four runs - three earned - over four innings in a no-decision against Seattle last Tuesday. The 23-year-old Panamanian recorded his only win during the rough stretch on July 25, when he limited Oakland to three runs and three hits in seven frames. Yasiel Puig is 2-for-2 lifetime versus Jurado, who faces Cleveland for the first time but is 4-2 with a 4.34 ERA on the road this year.
Plesac has won three straight starts despite yielding four runs on six hits and three walks over five innings against AL-leading Houston on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Ball State product gave up three runs - two earned - over 16 frames in his previous three outings but has served up 11 homers in 12 overall turns. Rougned Odor belted a homer on June 18 for the only run allowed by Plesac, who gave up two hits but issued five walks over seven innings in the win over Texas.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cleveland’s Roberto Perez needs one homer to become the sixth catcher in franchise history to hit 20 in a season.
2. Texas SS Elvis Andrus recorded a triple and a single on Monday, giving him multiple hits in four of his last eight games.
3. Indians OF Jordan Luplow, who has gone 8-for-19 in his last six contests, left the series opener with a cramp in his right hamstring.