Series Preview: Texas Rangers (54-35) @ Oakland Athletics (46-43)

First of all, on a personal note, I want to apologize for the lack of content from myself in particular. If you don’t know, I have been moving and planning a wedding which is why I have been missing this month. However, things should get back to normal around here shortly (at least until the wedding in August) and I have a great team around me.

Oakland has been one of the best teams in the league over the last month or so. They have gained 2 games on the Rangers since the teams last met and are over .500 on the season.

Colby Lewis will be activated from the disabled list for Wednesday’s start.

Series at a Glance

Texas Record: 54-35 (1st AL West)
Oakland Record: 46-43 (3rd AL West, 8 GB)

Season Series: 5-5
Record at Oakland: 1-3

Notable Transactions:

April 13, 1966: The Washington Senators purchased Diego Segui from the Kansas City Athletics.

June 23, 1966: The Washington Senators traded Jim Duckworth to the Kansas City Athletics for Ken Harrelson.

July 30, 1966: The Washington Senators traded Diego Segui to the Kansas City Athletics for Jim Duckworth.

June 9, 1967: The Kansas City Athletics purchased Ken Harrelson from the Washington Senators.

To recap: Nothing changed over the 14 months. Nothing. Everybody ended up on their original team and no other players were involved. Gotta love the Reserve Clause.

Probable Starters:

Tuesday 9:05 CDT TEX: RHP Roy Oswalt (2-1, 6.26 ERA/3.89 FIP) – OAK: RHP Bartolo Colon (6-7, 3.80 ERA/3.99 FIP)

Wednesday 2:35 CDT TEX: RHP Colby Lewis (6-6, 3.51 ERA/3.72 FIP) – OAK: LHP Travis Blackley (2-2, 2.63 ERA/2.59 FIP)

Projected Athletics Lineup

1 CF Coco Crisp (S)
2 2B Jemile Weeks (S)
3 RF Josh Reddick (S)
4 LF Yoenis Cespedes
5 DH Seth Smith (L) vs RHP
6 1B Brandon Moss (L) vs RHP
7 3B Brandon Inge
8 C Kurt Suzuki
9 SS Cliff Pennington (B) vs RHP

Bench
C Derek Norris
1B/OF Chris Carter vs LHP
IF Brandon Hicks vs LHP
OF Jonny Gomes vs LHP

Bullpen
CL RHP Ryan Cook
SU RHP Grant Balfour
SU LHP Sean Doolittle
MID RHP Jim Miller
MID LHP Jordan Norberto
MID RHP Evan Scribner
LR LHP Jerry Blevins

(source MLBDepthCharts)

For more information on the Athletics see FanSided’s Athletics page, Swingin’ A’s.