Rangers bring 1-0 series advantage over Athletics into game 2
Texas Rangers (3-9, fifth in the AL West) vs. Oakland Athletics (7-7, fifth in the AL West)
Oakland, California; Saturday, 4:07 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Martin Perez (0-2, 6.75 ERA, 2.00 WHIP, seven strikeouts); Athletics: Frankie Montas (2-1, 3.63 ERA, .92 WHIP, 17 strikeouts)
LINE: Athletics -129, Rangers +108; over/under is 7 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Texas Rangers face the Oakland Athletics leading the series 1-0.
Oakland has a 3-2 record at home and a 7-7 record overall. The Athletics have gone 4-1 in games when they record eight or more hits.
Texas is 0-5 in home games and 3-9 overall. The Rangers have a 3-0 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.
Saturday's game is the second meeting between these teams this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Sean Murphy has seven doubles and three home runs for the Athletics. Sheldon Neuse is 11-for-33 with a double over the past 10 games.
Adolis Garcia leads the Rangers with four extra base hits (two doubles and two home runs). Nick Solak is 8-for-27 with two home runs and three RBI over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Athletics: 6-4, .207 batting average, 2.97 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs
Rangers: 3-7, .228 batting average, 5.36 ERA, outscored by nine runs
INJURIES: Athletics: Stephen Vogt: 10-Day IL (undisclosed), Kevin Smith: 10-Day IL (ankle), Chad Pinder: 10-Day IL (covid-19), Lou Trivino: 10-Day IL (covid-19), Jed Lowrie: 10-Day IL (covid-19), Kirby Snead: 10-Day IL (covid-19), Stephen Piscotty: 10-Day IL (covid-19), Deolis Guerra: 60-Day IL (elbow), Brent Honeywell Jr.: 60-Day IL (elbow), Skye Bolt: 10-Day IL (oblique), James Kaprielian: 10-Day IL (shoulder)
Rangers: Jon Gray: 10-Day IL (knee), Josh Sborz: 10-Day IL (elbow), Dennis Santana: 10-Day IL (covid-19), Jose Leclerc: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jonathan Hernandez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
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