Chickens on the Run: Game 19: Rangers at Birds

Rangers lead this series 2-1 and the season series is notched even at 3-3 as they head in the final game of this series.

Harrison hasn't looked sharp at all this season. Harrison is 0-2 with a 9.20 ERA. Harrison pitched well enough to not get a loss in his last start, although that is debatable. He lasted only four innings and gave up five runs in a ND to Toronto. He has 14.1 innings this season. What happened to the Harrison of last year? If he continues on this trend, I can't think the Rangers will give too many more starts.

Rangers to Watch:

The Team is 9-40 (.225) with one double and one RBI.
Michael Young is 2-9 (.222) with a double.
Marlon Byrd is 2-5 (.400).
Ian Kinsler is 2-5 (.400) with an RBI.
Jarrod Saltalamachia is 2-3.

Guthrie has a 5.16 ERA and a 2-1 record after four starts. His last two starts have been everything but nice. In 4.2 innings against the Red Sox, he gave up eight runs (five earned) with two round trips in what resulted as a no decision. The team still lost the game 10-8. The following start against the White Sox wasn't any better. He did go six innings, but gave up five earned runs off of 1 HR. He has struggled a little with control, as in his last 10.2 innings, he has yeilded seven walks. Yuck for him, good for us. I don't see that trend changing anytime soon, even with his success against the Rangers. Last season he had two whitewashes against the Ranger, one score was 9-1 and the other was 10-4. In both starts, he went longer than six innings.

Birds to Watch:

The Team is 7-13 (.538) with two doubles, two HRs, and six RBIs.
Aubrey Huff is 1-3 with a HR and two RBIs.
Melvin Mora is 2-2 with a HR and three RBIs.
Brian Roberts is 2-2 with two doubles.

Let's remember that Harrison does well after his first start against a team. I am not sure if this trend holds true to the second start against a team in the same season, or if it is an umbrella effect over, meaning the second start ever.

Forecast: I like the Rangers in this one. If it is just me figuring that Harrison's trend holds true to the unbrella theory and not seasonal. Rangers win this one 9-4.