MLB Game Preview - Texas at Baltimore

Sun Sep 8, 2019 1:05 PM EDT

The visiting Texas Rangers have seen their offense come to life in the last two games, and they'll try to find more of the same as they go for a four-game sweep of the struggling Baltimore Orioles on Sunday.

The Rangers' offense hadn't done well over a three-game period, but bounced back for seven runs in Friday's win and then came through again in a 9-4 victory over the Orioles on Saturday. That game saw the first six Texas batters score, as the Rangers posted six runs on just three hits in the opening inning.

Rougned Odor came up with the big hit in Saturday's win, a three-run homer to cap the six-run first. He leads the Rangers with 74 RBIs.

Texas also scored 11 runs in a game against the Orioles on June 4 (the Rangers' lone loss to Baltimore this year, 12-11). Texas has 12 hits in each of the last two games.

The mix of offense and pitching has helped the Rangers win five of the six games the teams have played this season.

On the injury front, Texas is hopeful that Joey Gallo could return before season's end. Gallo has been taking batting practice on the field and told MLB.com that his right hand -- he underwent surgery July 25 on a broken hamate bone -- is doing better.

"It's good, it's coming along pretty well," Gallo said. "If it continues to go well, when we get home, I can start hitting against some live pitching and see where it goes from there."

Mike Minor (12-8, 3.12 ERA) will start Sunday for Texas. The left-hander is coming off a strong outing in a win over the Yankees last Monday, when he threw 7 1/3 scoreless innings.

Against the Orioles, Minor is 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA in six career appearances (three starts). He threw 5 2/3 shutout innings in a no-decision against Baltimore on June 5, when the Rangers won 2-1 in extra innings.

The Orioles brought up outfielder Austin Hays in a bit of a mild surprise on Saturday. Hays is set to play in the Arizona Fall League, which runs for about 40 days starting later this month.

But executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said MLB teams received a memo Thursday about a new rule permitting those on the 40-man roster to play in Arizona even if they're in the majors during September.

Hays will stay with the Orioles until their season ends and then go to the Arizona League. He came on as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning of Saturday's loss and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts but made some nice plays in center field, including a diving catch.

"I'm glad they made the (rule change) because, ideally, we just wanted him to get at-bats," Elias told the media Saturday. "And with it being an either-or choice at the time between the fall league and September call-ups, it was two months of at-bats versus one month, probably with not 100 percent playing time here."

Asher Wojciechowski (2-7, 5.12) gets the start on Sunday. He hasn't won since July 26 but has been pitching more consistently in recent starts.

The right-hander will be making his first appearance versus Texas.

--Field Level Media