On Tuesday, the Oakland Athletics visit the Texas Rangers for the first game of a three-game series between the American League West rivals.
Oakland is coming of a Sunday win over the Kansas City Royals of 5-1. Matt Olsen hit a three-run home during the eighth inning. Olsen had five hits in 11 at bats including three home runs with eight runs batted in during the series for the A’s. Oakland has now won three of its last four games.
Texas lost its third game in its last four on Sunday falling to the Los Angeles Angels 3-1. Shin-Soo Choo had two doubles in a losing cause for the Rangers, while Nomar Mazara hit his 14th home run for the Rangers. However, the Rangers lost and dropped further back (13.5 games) in the AL West cellar.
Jed Lowrie leads Oakland with a .296 batting average and team highs in RBIs with 42 and hits with 69. Khris Davis has the team lead in home runs with 13. Oakland has a team batting average of .240 while opposing hitters are averaging .246 at the plate against Athletics pitching. On Tuesday, the A’s will send Sean Manaea to the mound. The left-hander this season is 5-6 with an ERA of 3.60, 56 Ks and 14 BBs.
Nomar Mazara leads the Rangers with a .274 batting average and team highs in RBIs with 39 and hits with 63. Joey Gallo leads the team in home runs with 15. Texas has a team batting average of .228 while opposing hitters are averaging .270 at the plate against Rangers pitching. On Tuesday, the Rangers will send Matt Moore to the mound. The left-hander this season is 1-5 with an ERA of 7.86, 39 Ks and 23 BBs.