Series Thread: There's no place like home: Rangers host A's 7/25-7/27

[darrylgann]

RHP Nick Martinez, who had been scheduled to pitch for Round Rock tonight, will not pitch. Being held for possible Tuesday start for Rangers

According to Grant

 

[Duane1952]

RHP Nick Martinez, who had been scheduled to pitch for Round Rock tonight, will not pitch. Being held for possible Tuesday start for Rangers

According to Grant

Rather see him pitch than Lohse.

 

[DT LUNA]

RHP Nick Martinez, who had been scheduled to pitch for Round Rock tonight, will not pitch. Being held for possible Tuesday start for Rangers

According to Grant

Looks like he will go Tues. since Lohse is gone.

 

[DT LUNA]

Rather see him pitch than Lohse.

Agree. We need to take care of business this series because it want get any easier.

 

[Bmurph]

July 22, 2016 5:12 pm
Rangers' Ariel Jurado: Promoted to Double-A
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Jurado was promoted to Double-A Frisco on Friday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

The right-hander will make his first start at the new level Monday, becoming one of the youngest players in the Texas League. Jurado didn't exactly end his time with High-A High Desert on a high note, giving up six runs on eight hits (including three homers) over four innings Sunday. He'd given up just one home run in his first 15 starts and posted a 71:24 K:BB over 79.1 total innings with the affiliate.

 

[Bmurph]

July 22, 2016 11:08 pm
Rangers' Yu Darvish: Shines as tough-luck loser in Kansas City
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Darvish (2-2) pitched six innings Friday, allowing three runs (two earned), seven hits and one walk while striking out 11 Royals in the loss.

Darvish was outdueled by Royals' starter Danny Duffy, but left the game without much bad to be said about his performance. Making just his fifth start since August 2014 due to injury, Darvish amassed double-digit strikeouts for the first time since July 18, 2014. Friday also marked the right-hander's longest outing since returning, and his highest pitch total (91). The 29-year-old appears ready to pay dividends to those owners that have patiently waited for the Japanese star to return to form.

 

[Bmurph]

July 22, 2016 11:14 pm
Rangers' Rougned Odor: Drops 18th bomb of season in loss to Royals
by RotoWire Staff | Special to CBSSports.com


Odor went 1-for-4 with a solo shot Friday against the Royals.

The second baseman's fourth-inning homer was his 18th of the year, and the first by a left-handed hitter against starter Danny Duffy since 2011. Odor has been upping his game recently, as July has been his best month of the season up to this point. He's raised his season average nearly ten points this month, from .263 to .272 by going 21-for-72 (.292) while hitting three homers and collecting 10 RBI and 10 runs.

 

[Bmurph]

July 23, 2016 12:04 pm
Rangers' Ronald Guzman: Showing improved power at Double-A
by RotoWire Staff | Special to CBSSports.com


Guzman, 21, is hitting .300/.363/.502 with 14 home runs and a 70:31 K:BB in 338 at-bats for Double-A Frisco.

Famously inked to a $3.45 million bonus as part of the same 2011 J-2 class that netted Nomar Mazara, Guzman has lagged behind Mazara in his development, but things seem to be clicking this year. His previous career-high slugging percentage was .434 last year at High-A, so the strides he has made in the power department are pretty impressive. He has never had a problem making contact, despite his 6-foot-5 frame, so as long as he is hitting for power, there is reason for optimism. As a first base-only prospect, Guzman's bat will need to continue to shine if he hopes to profile as a regular, but he has done enough in 2016 to reestablish himself as one of the more intriguing prospects at the position in the upper levels of the minors.

 

[Bmurph]

July 23, 2016 6:12 pm
Rangers' Martin Perez: Likely to start Monday
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Perez will likely start Monday's game against the A's, the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant reports.

His next turn would have been Tuesday, but the Rangers will apparently bump him up to get him back on normal rest. Kyle Lohse and Nick Martinez are candidates to start Tuesday's game. Perez has an 8.34 ERA in 22.2 innings in July and if the Ranger can get healthy and add pitching prior to the trade deadline he could be fighting to keep a spot in the rotation down the stretch.

 

[Bmurph]

Looks like he will go Tues. since Lohse is gone.

July 23, 2016 6:16 pm
Rangers' Kyle Lohse: May not stick in rotation
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Lohse is not a lock to stick in the Rangers' rotation, as either he or Nick Martinez will start Tuesday against the A's, the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant reports.

There is really no reason to be using Lohse in any format. He really struggles to miss bats (6.3 percent K-rate) and he gets hit hard, hence his 12.54 ERA through two starts. Even if he does get the start over Martinez on Tuesday, Lohse will likely be bumped from the rotation once the Rangers get healthy or once they acquire another pitcher via trade.

 

[Bmurph]

July 23, 2016 10:32 pm
Rangers' Cole Hamels: Earns 11th win of 2016 on Saturday
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Hamels (11-2) allowed one unearned run on five hits and three walks while striking out four over 5.1 innings to earn the win Saturday at the Royals.

Despite struggling with control issues, Hamels left the contest with a two-run lead before the Rangers' offense was able to put away the game in the latter innings. He's now held opponents to one or fewer earned runs in six of his last eight starts, and he boasts a 2.87 ERA in 2016. He'll make his next start Thursday against the Royals.

 

[Bmurph]

July 23, 2016 10:34 pm
Rangers' Nomar Mazara: Hits first homer in over a month Saturday
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Mazara went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, a walk, two runs and three RBI Saturday at the Royals.

Mazara's 12th blast of the year gave the team a 2-1 lead that they'd never relinquish. This was the first time he's left the yard since June 19, and he's currently slugging .429 on the season.

 

[Bmurph]

July 23, 2016 10:34 pm
Rangers' Adrian Beltre: Clubs 14th homer of season Saturday
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Beltre went 2-for-5 with a double and a three-run homer Saturday at the Royals.

Beltre launched his 14th bomb of the year to blow open the game in the seventh inning of a road victory. This was only his second homer since June 29, and he's now slashing.271/.326/.446 in 2016.

 

[Bmurph]

July 24, 2016 4:00 pm
Rangers' Drew Stubbs: Will begin rehab assignment Monday
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Stubbs (toe) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Stubbs has been sidelined since late May with a sprained left toe, so he figures to spend at least most of the week with Round Rock before the Rangers would consider activating him. Even with Shin-Soo Choo (back) hitting the DL, the Rangers boast plenty of depth in the outfield, making it likely that Stubbs would be no better than a fourth or fifth outfielder for the club once he returns.

 

[Bmurph]

July 24, 2016 5:46 pm
Rangers' A.J. Griffin: Five one-run innings versus Royals
by RotoWire Staff | Special to CBSSports.com


Griffin threw five innings of one-run ball Sunday against the Royals, striking out three and walking two en route to a no-decision.

Griffin had been rocked for 11 runs in 10 innings over his last two starts, but he kept the Royals in check Sunday, as he limited the baserunners against and was only scored upon via a solo homer in the fourth by Kendrys Morales. Sunday's results were better, but Griffin has still yet to throw more than five innings in any start since he returned from an extended absence due to a shoulder problem, and he'll need to begin to go deeper into games if he is to remain in the rotation for a Rangers club that has already asked a lot of its bullpen. He is scheduled to take on this same Royals club at home Friday.

 

[DT LUNA]

July 23, 2016 6:16 pm
Rangers' Kyle Lohse: May not stick in rotation
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Lohse is not a lock to stick in the Rangers' rotation, as either he or Nick Martinez will start Tuesday against the A's, the Dallas Morning News' Evan Grant reports.

There is really no reason to be using Lohse in any format. He really struggles to miss bats (6.3 percent K-rate) and he gets hit hard, hence his 12.54 ERA through two starts. Even if he does get the start over Martinez on Tuesday, Lohse will likely be bumped from the rotation once the Rangers get healthy or once they acquire another pitcher via trade.

Sorry but I thought Lohse was sent down. Wrong I guess

 

[Bmurph]

Rangers beat

• Reliever Tanner Scheppers, who has been on the disabled list all season recovering from left knee surgery, threw a live batting practice Tuesday in Arizona and will throw again Friday. Once he starts getting comfortable, he will go on a rehabilitation assignment in the Minors, but the Rangers aren't expecting to him to be ready before the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline.

• Jake Diekman, who is on the disabled list with a cut on his left index finger, threw in the bullpen Tuesday without any issues. He expects to be activated Friday in Kansas City.

• Derek Holland, who is on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation, has advanced to long toss and will join the Rangers on Friday in Kansas City. If his throwing continues to progress, he will throw a bullpen session Saturday.

• Colby Lewis, sidelined with a strained muscle in the back of his right shoulder, has been cleared to begin playing catch at a distance of 60 feet.

• Catcher Bryan Holaday began his rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Round Rock and is eligible to come off the disabled list Friday. But the Rangers may keep him at Round Rock longer to get extra at-bats. Holaday has had just six at-bats since Robinson Chirinos came off the disabled list June 9 and he became the Rangers' third catcher.

• Adrian Beltre's home run Tuesday night was his 148th with the Rangers. That's his most with any one club. He had 147 with the Dodgers from 1998-2004. He has 426 overall.

 

[Bmurph]

Sorry but I thought Lohse was sent down. Wrong I guess

Haven't heard that yet but it should happen soon enough. Ramos was DFA'd, that may have been what you were thinking of

 

[DT LUNA]

Haven't heard that yet but it should happen soon enough. Ramos was DFA'd, that may have been what you were thinking of

Probably was and I hope Lohse goes down soon.

 

[Bmurph]

Happy to be home, Perez, Rangers welcome A's

Perez's sixth straight win 1:33
Martin Perez tosses six innings of one-run ball, striking out a pair and winning his sixth straight decision

By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com | @Sullivan_Ranger | 6:10 PM ET
The Rangers are finally returning home to Globe Life Park in Arlington, while the Athletics are beginning a nine-game road trip that includes two series against first-place teams.

The Rangers and A's open a three-game series on Monday night. The Athletics go to Cleveland and Anaheim after they finish with the Rangers. They are 21-25 on the road this season, having won nine of their last 14 away from the Coliseum.

The Rangers can tell the A's what life is like on the road. They just finished their own nine-game road trip and have played 29 of their last 38 games away from Arlington.

"There are a lot of things that present challenges to a ballclub," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "Is that one? Yes. It's the same as losing starting pitchers [Colby Lewis, Derek Holland], your [designated hitter Prince Fielder] or your right fielder [Shin-Soo Choo]. They're all ingredients. They all present different challenges. How you respond to those challenges tells you how this thing is going to end up."

Left-hander Martin Perez pitches for the Rangers against A's right-hander Daniel Mengden, the Texas native who was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on June 11 and will be making his eighth start.

Mengden, who is from Houston and went to Texas A&M, was 1-3 with a 2.81 ERA in his first four starts and 0-2 with a 9.33 ERA in his last four. He faced the Rangers in his second start on June 16, and allowed two runs (one earned) over 6 1/3 innings in a 5-1 loss.

Perez will be thrilled to get back to Arlington. His last four starts and six of the last seven have been on the road. He is 0-3 with a 10.91 ERA in his last three starts.

At home, it has been completely different. He is 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA in nine starts at Globe Life Park. That's the second-lowest home ERA in the American League.

What to watch for

• Rangers outfielder Ian Desmond is hitting .376 at home. Entering Sunday, that was the highest home batting average in the AL. Nomar Mazara was 13th with a .317 average.

• Athletics infielders Jed Lowrie and Yonder Alonso have been better on the road than at home. Lowrie is hitting .307 on the road, ninth-best in the AL. Alonso is 10th at .304.

• Athletics outfielder Khris Davis has been a thorn in the Rangers' side this season. He is hitting .357 against them, with five home runs and 15 RBIs in seven games. The five home runs are tied with Robinson Cano of the Mariners for most against the Rangers this season. The 15 RBIs are tied with Albert Pujols of the Angels and Max Kepler of the Twins.