Texas @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( May 27, 2013 ) Texas 3, Arizona 5

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 hitting a homer 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: 9:40 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), FSN (Arizona)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yu Darvish (7-2, 2.84 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Trevor Cahill (3-5, 2.81)

Darvish had a personal five-game winning streak snapped when he lost 1-0 to the Oakland Athletics in his last turn. He allowed just one run and five hits in six innings in his best outing since tossing six scoreless frames against the Los Angeles Angels on April 24. Darvish leads the majors with 91 strikeouts but fanned a season-low five against Oakland. He never has faced the Diamondbacks.

Cahill matched a season high by allowing four runs in six innings while losing to the Colorado Rockies in his last outing. He had given up just six earned runs over his previous five turns. Cahill is just 1-3 at home despite a tidy 2.50 ERA. He is 9-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 15 career starts against Texas.

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 3, Diamondbacks 1