MLB Game Preview - Texas at Oakland
Thu Jul 25, 2019 10:07 PM EDT

SD
0
NYM
4
F
STL
6
PIT
3
F
COL
8
WSH
7
F
NYY
3
BOS
19
F
MIN
10
CHW
3
F
CLE
5
KC
4
F(14)
TEX
11
OAK
3
F
BAL
10
LAA
8
F(16)
DET
2
SEA
10
F
After mediocre trip, A's return home to face Rangers
Thu Jul 25, 2019 3:49 AM

Having failed to make up ground on the American League West-leading Houston Astros, the Oakland Athletics seek to create more space between themselves and one of their challengers for second place in the division when they open a four-game series against the visiting Texas Rangers on Thursday night.

With the Astros having built a 7 1/2-game advantage in the AL West, the A's and Rangers find themselves battling for wild-card position while contemplating trade-deadline possibilities as they meet in Oakland for the second time this season.

The A's swept a three-game home set in April, and they hold a 6-3 advantage in the season series.

Oakland left-hander Brett Anderson (9-5, 3.82 ERA) and Texas righty Ariel Jurado (5-6, 4.92) are the scheduled starters in the series opener.

The A's find themselves in the heart of a 19-game stretch of games against playoff contenders. They flew home Wednesday after a 4-2 loss at Houston that capped a 3-4 trip, including two setbacks in three games against the Astros, which prompted Oakland manager Bob Melvin to caution his team to look ahead, not back.

"There's a lot of baseball left," he said after the loss. "We've overcome some gaps before, but it's really not what we're looking at right now. We're just looking at trying to continue to play really well, as we have been.

"This trip was a tough trip, now that you look back at it. We went 3-4, which isn't great, but 4-3, we would have considered to be a good trip."

The A's began the trip by splitting four games at Minnesota. Their next 12 games are against Texas, Milwaukee, St. Louis and the Chicago Cubs.

Anderson is expected to be reinstated off the paternity list following the birth of his son. He will be pitching for the first time since battling through a fingernail issue on his right middle finger in a no-decision during Oakland's 5-4 win at Minnesota on Saturday. Anderson gave up three runs in six-plus innings.

The 31-year-old veteran has faced the Rangers twice this season, both times on the road, without getting a decision. He threw six innings in an 8-7 loss in April before going 6 1/3 innings in a 5-3 win in June.

Anderson is 3-4 with a 4.77 ERA in 15 career games, including 12 starts, against Texas.

Jurado has managed to miss the A's in all three previous series this season. He will take the mound with a 0-2 record and a 12.79 ERA in two lifetime appearances, one as a starter, against Oakland.

The 23-year-old had the unfortunate task of facing the Astros in each of his last two starts. He was bombed for 10 runs and 15 hits in nine innings during those outings.

The Rangers have lost nine of their last 10 games, including two of three in their just-completed series at Seattle.

To make matters worse, while the club flew to Oakland after a 5-3 loss to the Mariners on Wednesday, slugger Joey Gallo was headed back to Dallas to be examined for a possible broken hamate bone in his right hand.

"It's not good as far as the outlook," Rangers manager Chris Woodward said Wednesday. "I don't know what's wrong yet, but most likely it's going to be (a stint on the injured list). We're not for sure yet."

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Texas            
Oakland            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Ariel Jurado - MIN
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Oakland
Brett Anderson - (N/A)
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. Texas

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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