Athletics at Rangers
The injury bug continues to plague the Texas Rangers, who will be without third baseman Adrian Beltre on Wednesday as they look to avoid a sweep of their three-game series against the visiting Oakland Athletics. Beltre strained his left hamstring late in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the surging Athletics as Texas fell for the fifth time in six contests.
Already missing second baseman Rougned Odor (hamstring) and shortstop Elvis Andrus (elbow), the Rangers can ill afford to lose Beltre, who will have an MRI on Wednesday but wasn't optimistic about the outcome. “Obviously disappointed because we already have other key players hurt,” Beltre told reporters. “It’s no secret we have been struggling offensively and trying to find a way to get through it. I’m supposed to be one of the guys who is getting better, and now this happens.” Oakland had its own injury scare in Tuesday’s game when closer Blake Treinen exited in the eighth inning after being hit in the right leg by a line drive, but he was diagnosed with a bruised shin and is listed as day-to-day. Mark Canha continued his hot start with his third homer for Oakland, which has won four in a row and eight of its last nine.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (0-4, 10.07 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Doug Fister (1-2, 3.95)
Graveman suffered his fourth straight loss on Friday against Boston and has allowed at least four runs in each of his first five starts, but manager Bob Melvin was encouraged by his last outing. “I thought he threw as well as we’ve seen him throw all year,” Melvin told reporters. “When you struggle, you’ve got to make some adjustments, and he made some adjustments.” Nomar Mazara is 7-for-18 against Graveman, who is 4-3 with a 4.39 ERA in nine career starts versus Texas.
Fister is set to make his first start since April 9, when he landed on the disabled list with a right hip strain. The 34-year-old Californian suffered his second straight loss in his last outing, allowing three runs over five innings against the Los Angeles Angels. Fister is 8-9 with a 3.33 ERA in 19 career starts against Oakland and has limited Matt Joyce to three hits with six strikeouts in 17 at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Athletics are 11-3 when scoring first and 2-8 when allowing the first run.
2. Texas is 3-12 at home and has lost eight of its last nine games at Globe Life Park.
3. Oakland placed Yusmeiro Petit on the bereavement list and recalled fellow RHP Lou Trivino from Triple-A Nashville.