Athletics at Rangers
The Oakland Athletics showed in the series opener why they're the top home run-hitting team on the road this season, taking advantage of a pitching staff that has been struggling mightily. Oakland hopes to continue both trends on Tuesday, when it visits the Texas Rangers for the second contest of their four-game series.
The Athletics had eight players with multiple hits and launched four home runs in Monday's 15-3 victory, raising their total of blasts on the road to a major league-leading 89. Jonathan Lucroy began the power display with a grand slam in the first inning while Matt Chapman went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs to improve to 10-for-22 over his last five contests. While Oakland posted its 12th win in 16 games, Texas fell to 1-5 over its last six as its pitchers were battered for the third time in four outings. Rougned Odor, who was named the American League Player of the Week after batting .615 on the strength of three straight multi-hit performances, doubled and scored for the Rangers, whose staff has allowed a total of 40 runs in the team's last three setbacks.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Frankie Montas (5-2, 3.35 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Mike Minor (6-6, 4.89)
Montas is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Nashville and make his first start for Oakland since July 9, when he scattered three hits over six scoreless innings in a win at Houston. The 25-year-old Dominican has worked at least five frames in seven of his eight turns this year and allowed fewer than three runs on five occasions. Montas, who is 3-0 with a 2.66 ERA in four road outings, has given up four hits over 4 1/3 scoreless innings in three career relief appearances against Texas.
Minor lasted only 2 2/3 innings in a loss at Baltimore on July 15, when he was tagged for six runs - five earned - and four hits. The 30-year-old Tennessean is winless in three turns this month, going 0-2 while surrendering 12 runs on 17 hits and five walks over 14 frames. Minor, who owns a 3.54 ERA at home against a 7.04 mark on the road, is 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA in four career appearances (one start) against Oakland.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rangers OF Joey Gallo (ankle) was kept out of the starting lineup in the series opener.
2. Oakland RHP Daniel Gossett (elbow) suffered a setback during his rehab and has been shut down.
3. Texas claimed RHP Chris Rowley off waivers from Toronto on Monday and will assign him to Triple-A Round Rock.