Texas @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 28, 2013 ) Arizona 9, Texas 3

The Arizona Diamondbacks are hosting the Texas Rangers in a day-night doubleheader on Memorial Day, and Texas manager Ron Washington is miffed with the scheduling. The teams are off Tuesday and then play two games in Arlington, Texas. Arizona feels more fans will attend two games on Monday as opposed to playing one on both days. “I wish we wouldn’t have it, but there’s nothing you can do about it,” Washington said Sunday. “I still don’t understand what it’s about.”

Texas has the best record in the American League, while Arizona is tied with the San Francisco Giants atop the National League West. The Rangers fell to the Seattle Mariners in 13 innings on Sunday, just their fifth loss in 17 games. Texas has a 4 1/2-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the AL West. The Diamondbacks defeated the San Diego Padres on Sunday, with Eric Chavez homering for the second straight day. Martin Prado matched a career best with four hits and went 8-for-12 in the three-game series.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), FSN (Arizona)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Martin Perez (2012: 1-4, 5.45 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Tyler Skaggs (2012: 1-3, 5.83)

The 22-year-old Perez is making his first major-league appearance of the season after throwing seven scoreless innings in his most recent start at Triple-A Round Rock. He missed the first month of the campaign with a broken left arm and had struggled in the minors prior to his last outing. Perez started six games for Texas last season, working six innings just twice.

Skaggs will be designated as the 26th player for the doubleheader and be optioned back to Triple-A Reno afterward. He is starting in place of Ian Kennedy, who sliced his right index finger with a knife while washing dishes at home. Skaggs is 4-5 with a 5.23 ERA at Reno this season and made six starts for the Diamondbacks last year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas closer Joe Nathan blew his first save in 17 opportunities this season in Sunday’s loss to Seattle. It also snapped his streak of 36 consecutive saves on the road.

2. Diamondbacks OF A.J. Pollock is 10-for-17 over his last five games.

3. Rangers INF Jurickson Profar (20 years, 95 days) homered to start Sunday’s game, becoming the fifth-youngest player in major-league history to lead off a game with a home run.

PREDICTION: Rangers 7, Diamondbacks 5