Series Preview: Oakland Athletics (37-39) @ Texas Rangers (47-29)

Since the last time these two teams started a series, Oakland is 14-8 and Texas is 15-7 and three of those Texas losses were against the Athletics. They have struggled against the AL West this season, and have another four game set against Oakland to get back on track. It starts off with Scott Feldman and is tentatively ending with Yu Darvish. Justin Grimm is also slated to start which is exciting for him. Oakland is a lot closer to Houston’s lineup than it is to Detroit’s.

Series at a Glance

Texas Record: 47-29 (1st AL West)
Oakland Record: 37-39 (3rd AL West, 10 GB)

Season Series: 4-2 Oakland
Record at Texas: 1-1

Notable Transaction: August 31, 1992: The Texas Rangers traded Jeff Russell, Ruben Sierra, Bobby Witt and cash to the Oakland Athletics for Jose Canseco.

Probable Starters:

Thursday 7:05 CDT TEX: RHP Scott Feldman (1-6, 6.00 ERA/4.09 FIP) – OAK: RHP Tyson Ross (2-7, 6.02 ERA/5.27 FIP)

Friday 7:05 CDT TEX: LHP Matt Harrison (10-3, 3.24 ERA/3.58 FIP) – OAK: RHP A.J. Griffin (0-0, 3.00 ERA/4.40 FIP)

Saturday 6:15 CDT TEX: RHP Justin Grimm (1-1, 11.57 ERA/3.35 FIP) – OAK: LHP Tommy Milone (8-5, 3.83 ERA/4.44 FIP)

Sunday 6:05 CDT TEX: RHP Yu Darvish (10-4, 3.57 ERA/3.69 FIP) – OAK: LHP Travis Blackley (1-2, 3.05 ERA/2.77 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 3B Brandon Inge
7 1B Brandon Moss (L)
8 C Kurt Suzuki
9 SS Cliff Pennington (B) vs RHP

Bench
C Derek Norris
IF Brandon Hicks vs LHP
OF Jonny Gomes vs LHP

Bullpen
CL RHP Ryan Cook
SU RHP Grant Balfour
SU LHP Sean Doolittle
MID LHP Brian Fuentes
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.