Milwaukee @ Texas preview
Globe Life Park in Arlington
Last Meeting ( May 8, 2013 ) Texas 4, Milwaukee 1
The Texas Rangers were thwarted in a no-hit bid in their last outing, but that's pretty much the only thing that hasn't gone their way of late. Winners of a season-best eight in a row and 13 of 14, the Rangers look to continue their positive momentum on Tuesday when they begin an abbreviated two-game series versus the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. Yu Darvish carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning and struck out a career-high 15 batters as Texas completed a four-game sweep of Houston with a 2-1 triumph on Monday afternoon.
The victory allowed the Rangers to maintain their one-game lead over Oakland in the American League West. Milwaukee is 4-3 on its road trip, but was felled by Felix Hernandez and Seattle on Sunday. The Brewers could receive a boost with the expected return of third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who has made three separate trips to the disabled list with a sprained left knee.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FSN Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Marco Estrada (4-4, 4.96 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Alexi Ogando (5-3, 3.28)
Estrada sparkled in his first start since coming off the disabled list. The 30-year-old Mexican yielded just one hit - a single in the first inning - and retired his next 14 batters over five scoreless innings against San Francisco on Wednesday. While Estrada has split four road decisions, he owns a 1.00 WHIP while limiting the opposition to a .216 batting average.
Ogando recorded his first victory since May 15 after he permitted two runs on four hits in five innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday. The 29-year-old Dominican has struggled with his control, issuing multiple walks in four of his last five turns while allowing 31 in 74 innings this season. Ogando has yielded nine earned runs in his last four outings following his stint on the disabled list.
WALK-OFFS
1. Texas 3B Adrian Beltre had an RBI double among his three hits on Monday. The slugger, who has not faced Estrada, has collected multiple hits in seven of his last 10 contests.
2. 1B Juan Francisco is 7-for-13 on Milwaukee's road trip.
3. Rangers OF Alex Rios saw his 11-game hitting streak come to an end on Monday.
PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Brewers 1