Chickens on the Run: Game 150: Rangers at A's

The last game of the series, and then the Rangers come home!

The C.J. Wilson card. I can't wait to have him back next season. We shouldn't expect him back this season... it would be asking too much, I'm afraid.

Wouldn't it be funny if Eveland's first name was Adam? But how sad that it is Dana... that's like a boy named Sue.

Scouting Report:

Rangers: On Sunday, Feldman will make his first start since Aug. 30 and probably his final start of the season. He has thrown 133 2/3 innings for the Rangers this season and another 12 2/3 innings in the Minor Leagues. The Rangers would like to cut him off before he overdoes it in his first full season as a starter. He is 1-3 with a 5.63 ERA in his past seven starts. He is 4-4 with a 5.64 ERA in 11 starts on the road, and he is 1-1 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts against Oakland this year.

A's: In four starts since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento, Eveland, who was sent down Aug. 3 to work on his mechanics and command, has shown dramatic improvement. His last time out, on Tuesday at Detroit, he held the powerful Tigers lineup to two runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings but didn't factor in the decision. Eveland, who needs to spot the ball to be effective despite a heavy, low- to mid-90s fastball, hasn't lost since returning to the A's, but he's 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two career starts against the Rangers.

Feldman is 5-6 with a 5.05 ERA this season and is 1-1 with a 2.59 ERA in his career against Oakland. He has three career starts, but also has 5 relief appearances against them. He's got 24.1 career innings with 14 hits and seven earned runs (2 HRs) while walking a massive 16 batters. Oakland has hit him for a career .171 batting average, which needless to say is dominating. He has been much better this season with his control, but still has issued 53 walks in 133.2 innings.

A's to watch:

Frank Thomas: 4-10 with 2 doubles
Jack Cust: 3-9 with a HR and 2 RBIs

And that is really it. The current roster is 13-71 (.183 BA) with 4 doubles, 1 HR and 5 RBIs. Again, dominating.

Dana started a game against Texas earlier this year, on July 27th, in which he grabbed a no-decision. He went 4.2 innings, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits. He also walked two. He is averaging close to a walk every other inning (70 walks in 151 innings). He has an 8-8 record with a 4.23 ERA, but has gone at least six innings in his last four outings, tying his longest stretch this season of 6 or more innings in a start. The A's have won three of his last four starts, but Eveland has only one win to show for it personally. The Rangers have a .318 batting average against him.

Notable Rangers:

Josh Hamilton: 2-6 with a double
Michael Young: 2-5
Gerald Laird: 2-5
Milton Bradley: 3-4 with 2 doubles, a HR, and 4 RBIs

The current Ranger roster is 14-43 with four doubles, a HR, and 7 RBIs.

Forecast: I find it hard to say, but I have said the Rangers are going to win this one. And this one isn't all that hard to say, really. I think the Rangers can take this one fairly easy. This one shouldn't be a bombbardment of hits, at least for the A's. Rangers win this one, 8-3.