Games 47 and 48: Rangers vs. Athletics

The Rangers have dropped five of their last nine games, with a sweep by the Tigers and dropping two of three to the Yankees. They also swept the Astros in there. A series against A's could be just what the Dr. ordered (Dr. Pepper, anyone?). This is a four game set with a doubleheader today. Hunter hasn't started for the Rangers at all this season, but has had some good stuff in the minors. Tommy Hunter (2-2, 4.89 between Oklahoma City and Frisco this year) threw a season-high 123 pitches on Sunday, taking a shutout into the ninth inning. Last season he went 0-2 with a 16.36 ERA. He has faced Jason Giambi twice. He went 1-2 with a solo HR.

Texas is 2-2 against Oakland this season. Last year, the Rangers went 12-7 against the A's. Outman has nine games this season (seven starts) and is 2-0 with a 2.90 ERA. The A's have won in each of his last four starts. He hasn't pitched against the Rangers this season, but last year, he had two starts against the Rangers, going 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA. He has a 4.50 ERA in Arlington, where the Rangers hit him for a .417 batting average. If the Rangers work the count (which they have been good at doing this season), they should have great success against Outman.

Rangers to Watch:

• Michael Young is 2-5 against Outman.
• Josh Hamilton is 2-5 with three strikeouts.
• Marlon Byrd is 2-5 with a RBI.
• Nelson Cruz is 3-4 with two doubles and a RBI.

As a team, the Rangers current roster is 11-30 (.367) with four doubles and two RBIs.

Forecast: Game 1: Well, I am really shooting into the wind on this one. This could go either way. I like Hunter. Outman is a huge question mark. He's looking good thus far this season. So... Rangers win the series opener, 4-1. Hunter goes six innings, gives up one run.
Edgar Gonzalez has one start this season, a game against the Arizona D-Backs. He went five innings, yeilding one run on four hits, walking two. That gives him the 1.80 ERA that he has. There are three Rangers who have a history against him. Omar Vizquel is 1-15 with a double and a RBI. Andruw Jones is 2-7 and Josh Hamilton is 1-4 with a HR and two RBIs. Combined, they are 4-26 (.154) with a double, HR and three RBIs. Gonzalez has never faced the Rangers (as a team).

Feldman is secretly the Rangers golden boy. He is 3-0 with a 4.04 ERA. I would recommend the Rangers consider signing him to a nice, long contract. Feldman has nine games and six starts this season, and has lasted six innings in each of his last four starts. His last three, he has thrown over 100 pitches each. I would like to see him go longer in the games, he seems to have the stuff to do it with. As a starter this season, he has a 2.52 ERA for the Rangers. He averages just under 6 innings per start. He started a game against the A's earlier this month, going six innings and getting the win.

The current A's roster is 25-106 (.236) against Feldman with five doubles, a triple, three HRs, and fifteen RBIs.

A's to Watch:

• Jack Cust is 5-13 (.385) with two HRs and four RBIs.
• Kurt Suzuki is 3-10 with a double and three RBIs.
• Ryan Sweeney is 3-9 with two doubles.

Forecast: Game 2: Gonzalez has done well with a few Rangers. He had a great start against his former team to start his ML 2009 season. I just see Feldman doing a better job today. He has success. He has it with this wonderful season he is having and he is having it against the A's. Look for a Rangers win in game two with a score of 6-4. Feldman goes six and a partial, yeilding two runs.

Home Plate