Texas @ Chicago preview

Texas at Chi. Cubs

Last Meeting ( Apr 17, 2013 ) Texas 0, Chi. Cubs 0

The Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers will try to do something Thursday that they couldn't Wednesday - play baseball. The middle game of the three-game set was washed out Wednesday night and Thursday's matinee could face the same fate with the forecast calling for a 100 percent chance for rain and storms. The Cubs have lost eight of 10 since taking two of three in a season-opening series at Pittsburgh. The latest defeat was tough to swallow, as they rallied to put the winning run on base in the ninth before Texas' Craig Gentry made a diving catch to clinch a 4-2 win.

The Rangers made things interesting Tuesday. Closer Joe Nathan had trouble securing the final out, but they still have not lost consecutive games this season. Texas' pitching has been solid, especially the front-line starters, and while the offense has struggled at times, third baseman Adrian Beltre showed signs of breaking out of his early-season slump by belting a two-run homer and a double Tuesday.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Southwest (Texas), WGN (Chicago), MLB Network

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Alexi Ogando (2-0, 1.08 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Carlos Villanueva (0-0, 0.64)

Ogando's transition back to the starting rotation has gone splendidly, as the Rangers have won all three of his starts and he hasn't allowed more than one run in any of his outings. Ogando didn't factor in the decision last time out, but he was effective in holding the Mariners to one run on five hits over five innings. He has never faced the Cubs.

Villanueva has been the Cubs' top starter thus far, allowing one run on nine hits over 14 innings in his two outings, but he does not have a win to show for it. The bullpen has melted down late in both of his outings, and he took a no-decision despite 7 1/3 innings of three-hit, shutout ball last time out against San Francisco.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas' last six games and eight of its last 11 have been decided by one or two runs.

2. Cubs SS Starlin Castro is hitting .357 (15-for-42) during a nine-game hitting streak.

3. Twelve of Chicago's 13 games have been decided by three or fewer runs, and the Cubs are 4-8 in those contests.

PREDICTION: Rangers 3, Cubs 2