Texas @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( May 17, 2016 ) Texas 5, Oakland 8

Rougned Odor has appealed his eight-game suspension and once again will be in the lineup when the Texas Rangers conclude their three-game series against the host Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon. Odor was suspended for delivering a right cross to the face of Toronto's Jose Bautista during a brawl on Sunday and maintains he only was defending himself.

Texas' Elvis Andrus drew a one-game suspension for "aggressive actions during the incident," and served his penalty on Tuesday, but Odor has no interest in missing an extended number of games. "I just have to follow the protocol and wait for the appeal," Odor told reporters prior to Tuesday's gut-wrenching 8-5 loss. "I just want to be with my team. I don't want to be out eight games." The Rangers took a 5-4 lead in the ninth inning on Ian Desmond's two-run homer before Oakland's Khris Davis hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the frame to cap his first three-homer performance in the majors and match his career high of six RBIs. "I feel if my swing is on time, there isn't a pitcher who can beat me," Davis said after his major league-leading eighth homer in May gave the Athletics their fourth victory in five games.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Martin Perez (1-3, 3.23) vs. Athletics LH Rich Hill (5-3, 2.68)

Perez has allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of his eight starts, but wins have been hard to come by. He lost to Toronto in his last outing, when he gave up two runs (one earned) and five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Perez is 3-4 with a 5.93 ERA in eight career starts against Oakland and has struggled to retire Coco Crisp (6-for-16, three doubles).

Hill has won four of his last five starts, and his next victory will match the second-highest total of his major-league career - which began in 2005. He has given up four or fewer hits in each of his last five outings and has struck out 34 in 30 2/3 innings during the stretch. Hill is 0-3 with a 4.85 ERA in three home starts compared to a 5-0 record and 1.76 ERA in five road outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics 3B Danny Valencia is on a tear, as his homer on Tuesday was his sixth in the last five games.

2. Texas DH Prince Fielder returned to the lineup after having Monday off and went 2-for-4, but his homerless streak is now at 25 games.

3. Oakland INF/OF Mark Canha will undergo season-ending hip surgery next week.

PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Athletics 5