Texas Rangers (7-1) at Baltimore Orioles (6-2) – Series Finale Preview

Unable to secure a single run off the Baltimore Orioles and rookie Zach Britton, the Rangers with and pitcher Colby Lewis fell 5-0 in the first game of the doubleheader yesterday. However, they bounced back quickly and pounded the Orioles and Jake Arrieta 13-1 in the second game with Matt Harrison on the mound. The support of his teammates were great but Harrison simply didn’t need them as he only allowed only one run from just two hits.

Today, the game is early and comes on about 12:30 CT. It will be the final of the three-game series in Baltimore and the Rangers will look to continue the impressive run they had in the second game last night. The Rangers will have Derek Holland on the mound while the Orioles will counter with Jeremy Guthrie.

Pitching previews after the jump…

LHP Derek Holland is currently 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA for the season. In 15 starts on the road, he is 2-10 holding an earned run average of 5.66 – not his best stuff. In is lone start against the Orioles in Baltimore back in 2006, he allowed six runs on six hits over only 3 1/3 innings resulting in a severe 7-0 loss. Holland only has two Orioles batters that have secured hits off him – Vladimir Guerrero with a .182 average and Brian Roberts with a .500 batting average.

RHP Jeremy Guthrie is 1-0 with an 0.00 ERA. This will be his second start of the 2011 MLB season, but is one that has come delayed. He had a high fever Wednesday, which was his original day to pitch, and was scratched. He went to the hospital but was released the same day and has been progressing in recovery. He’s feeling better and will be on the mound against the Rangers today. In four home starts against Texas, Guthrie has an earned run average of 2.84 and is 3-0. There are five batters with batting averages of at least .333 – David Murphy with a .333 batting average, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz with .375 batting averages, Michael Young with a .389 and Josh Hamilton with a 4.00 batting average.

The Orioles are likely going to be playing today with their shortstop J.J. Hardy as he was suffering from a sore muscle after Saturday’s games in his left rib cage. This is the same injury that had led to him missing the past two games before the doubleheader.