Chicago @ Texas preview
Choctaw Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 3, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 1, Texas 3
With trade talks starting to heat up, the Texas Rangers are in the market for a starting pitcher. If they are truly to make a run at the American League West title this year, the general belief is that the team needs to add another piece to their rotation.
But that might not necessarily hold true, as the Rangers could get a boost from within. If Scott Feldman is able to regain his form from last season, he could be the missing piece the Rangers desperately need.
Feldman will try to show he can be that pitcher when he takes the mound for the Rangers in a three-game series finale against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday night in what should be a festive July 4 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
The White Sox will counter with left-hander Mark Buehrle.
Last year, Feldman won 17 games after he joined the rotation on April 25. So far this season, Feldman has struggled. Opponents have hit .315 off him, including posting a .412 average over his last two starts.
The biggest key for Feldman’s resurrection will be to rediscover his sinker.
Feldman used his sinker to perfection last year, but hasn’t found a consistent rhythm with it yet this year. In his last start against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, Feldman gave up five runs on nine hits with three walks and two strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.
In nine career games, including four starts, against the White Sox, Feldman is 2-1 with a 3.99 ERA. When he faced them on April 29, Feldman went six innings, allowing three runs - one earned - on two hits with four walks and four strikeouts in a winning effort.
Offensively, Josh Hamilton had an infield single on Saturday to extend his home hitting streak to 23 games. That matches Ivan Rodriguez and Michael Young for the second-longest in franchise history. Al Oliver set the record in 1981 with 30 consecutive games.
While Hamilton kept that streak alive, one came to a close. Hamilton grounded into a double play in the sixth inning for the first time this season, ending his American League-leading stretch of 308 at-bats without a GIDP.
Regardless, the Rangers won the game and will try to get the bats going yet again against the White Sox.
For the most part, Buehrle has held the Rangers in check his entire career. He threw a no-hitter against them in 2007, and in 19 career games, including 16 starts, Buehrle is 11-5 with a 3.39 ERA against Texas.
The lone Rangers player with notable success against Buehrle is Vladimir Guerrero, who has a lifetime .367 average, including two doubles and four home runs.
Buehrle has had success of late, going 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA in his past four starts. He is 2-5 with a 4.27 ERA in eight road starts this season.
Offensively, the White Sox managed only one run and one extra-base hit Saturday, a double from Brent Lillibridge in the ninth inning. Chicago, which has lost four of its past six games, finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.