Baltimore Orioles (36-47) at Texas Rangers (46-41) Game 3 of 3 Preview (7:05 pm CT)

The Texas Rangers pulled off a close game last night. Matt Harrison looks like he is getting back in the game mentally, Tommy Hunter came in and got the win for the game – his first this season, and Neftali Feliz came in with a strong ninth hitting 100 mph for his fastballs and picked up the save.

Tonight, the Rangers will look to get a sweep at home as they host the Baltimore Orioles for the final game of this three-game series.

Pitching Matchups

RHP Alexi Ogando starts tonight for the Rangers. Ogando got the win last time out after having lost three straight games. Some say that his hitters have figured him out but I just wonder if the pressure of doing so well is getting to him. Maybe it’s a little bit of both. All I know is that the Florida Marlins weren’t able to take him for anything so let’s hope the O’s can’t either. Last time out was a solid performance for Ogando all the way around. He permitted just two runs on five hits while allowing two walks and striking out eight batters in 6.2 innings. Prior to that outing, he allowed 15 runs over 9.2 innings in his three previous starts, which he lost. He is 8-3 on the year with a 2.86 ERA. At home, he is 6-1 with an earned run average of 2.38. He has only seen the Orioles in relief for 2.1 innings in which he held them to four hits and no runs.

RHP Jeremy Guthrie will counter Ogando. Guthrie is 3-10, which is not an appealing record, with a 3.93 ERA. Despite getting the loss last time out, he had a pretty solid outing. He permitted four runs on six hits over seven innings while walking three and striking out six. This was his longest outing since the end of May, which was eight innings. Earlier this season, Guthrie was up against the Rangers in which he allowed a single run on four hits over six innings but the O’s lost 3-0.

Pitchers vs. Hitters

RHP Alexi Ogando: Ogando has only faced one of the opposing batters in more than one at-bat and that is J.J. Hardy. Hardy is 1-for-3 with one RBI.

RHP Jeremy Guthrie: Adrian Beltre has the most at=bats against Guthrie as opposed to any other Rangers and is 3-for-25 with one home run and one RBI. Michael Young is 8-for-20 with one home run and three RBIs. Josh Hamilton is 5-for-13 with two homer and two RBIs and Ian Kinsler is 7-for-19 with one RBI.