Game 8: Rangers vs. Orioles

Well, it's now four in a row. I hate losing streaks. It just takes the wind out of everything. McCarthy on the hill tonight... will he turn things around for us?

Scouting Report:

Orioles: Simon pitched three shutout innings in his season debut, but then he allowed a pair of home runs in the fourth that turned the game around. The right-hander mostly used his fastball in that game after his off-speed offerings deserted him. Manager Dave Trembley said that Simon can get by with his fastball, but only when he's able to keep it down in the strike zone. Simon will be tested in his next start, which comes against the Rangers in one of the league's toughest offensive environments.

Birds to Watch:

• Aubrey Huff is 5-9 (.556) with a HR and three RBIs.
• Gregg Zaun is 2-5 (.400) with a double.

Rangers: McCarthy is pitching again, that's the big thing. He wasn't his sharpest in his season-opening start Thursday against Cleveland, but he did get the win, allowing three runs in five innings. He threw 105 pitches, a big improvement over seven in his most recent start, Sept. 15, 2008 against Detroit. His slider got him through a tough-hitting Indians lineup. His fastball will have to better against the Orioles. McCarthy had seven strikeouts against Cleveland -- he credited his slider -- but he had four walks and a hit batter.

No Texas Ranger has ever faced Simon.

Forecast: It has got to end sometime. I can't handle too much more of this. Call me picky if you want to. McCarthy is good enough to win. The Rangers just need to put it together. Even the bad teams win sometimes, although I am not calling this Ranger squad a bad team, they're just not playing that great right now. Rangers win this because I said so, score: 8-6.

Home Plate