Rangers Weekly Recap & Series Preview

It was a soggy week for the Rangers who went 4-2 for week. They split a two game series against Arizona this week before taking three of four from the Angels.

On Monday the Rangers faced Zack Greinke and beat him 5-3 thanks to a solo homer by Ronald Guzman and a 3-run homer by Robinson Chirinos.

Jose Leclerc got his first of four saves for this week.

Tuesday was another close game between Arizona and Texas but the Rangers couldn’t make the comeback complete and lost 6-4.

Thursday’s game to open up the four game series was a weird one. Jurado gave up five runs in the first inning, immediately making the Rangers’ hopes for a win look bleak. However a two-run homer by Mazara in the first and a solo homer in the second by Gallo, had the Rangers chipping away at the Angels’ lead.

One of the most memorable defensive games of the week (probably the season?) came in the fourth inning when Angels’ loaded the bases with no outs. Profar playing third base after Beltre aggravated his hamstring at the end of Monday’s game, started a triple play.

After a four run bottom of the 8th, the Rangers took a lead 8-6. Leclerc came in for the 9th, gave up a lead-off double and then shutdown the rest of the inning. Getting his second save of the week.

Friday’s game also feature a comeback, although it was just 1-0 lead in the Angels gained in the top of the second inning, squashed by a five-run bottom of the second. But a comeback they held onto, winning 6-4. Once again Leclerc gets the save. A quick 1-2-3 inning with three strikeouts.

Saturday’s game probably should’ve been a washout and yet they played it anyway and the Rangers lost 11-7.

Sunday’s game, another wet one and another rain delay. Thankfully not as long. But once against the Rangers came back from a 2-1 deficit, thanks to a Rougie 3-run homer in the seventh. Once again another 1-2-3 9th inning save for Leclerc.

The Rangers are now headed to the west coast and looking to play spoiler. They'll have three games in Oakland, who just wrapped a series against Houston where they’re now just one game behind in the division. At the moment the Rangers starting rotation is a mess with both Minor and Colon moving starts around because of stiff backs. At the moment, Bartolo Colon is scheduled for Monday’s game with Mike Fiers on the mound for Oakland.

Since being traded to Oakland, Fiers has pitched 11.1 innings and allowed just three earned runs in two starts. Odor, Gallo, and Elvis each have two homers in their career against Fiers.

The rest of their rotation is TBD but Oakland will have Brett Anderson pitching on Tuesday and Edwin Jackson on Wednesday.

Anderson has allowed just two runs in 19.2 innings in his last three starts but each resulted in a no-decision.

Jackson faced the Rangers in July allowing five runs in 4.1 innings.