Texas @ Baltimore preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2017 ) Baltimore 10, Texas 6

While the Baltimore Orioles haven't had much reason for optimism all season, the Texas Rangers had to believe getting back to .500 in the near future was a possibility, that is, until the calendar flipped to July. The Rangers hope to put a halt to their recent struggles Friday when they kick off the final leg of their 10-game trek with the first of three contests at Baltimore.

Texas (40-54) fell as many as 17 games below .500 on June 15 before going 11-2 over the rest of the month, but a 2-8 swoon in July has almost erased most of the progress it had made. The Rangers split a series in Detroit to begin its road trip last week, but they were unable to get anything done during a sweep in Boston and find themselves in a spot where they must hope Baltimore's lackluster pitching staff (4.92 team ERA, ranking 28th in the majors) can help an offense that is averaging two runs over the last six contests. The Orioles' miserable season can't end soon enough, as they stand 39 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East and their 26-68 record is the worst in baseball. Baltimore lost for the 16th time in 19 contests Thursday, dropping a 4-2 decision in a make-up game against Philadelphia.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), MASN2 (Baltimore)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Cole Hamels (4-8, 4.28 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Alex Cobb (2-11, 6.67)

After working at least five innings in each of his first 17 outings this season, Hamels turned in his shortest start since June 1, 2010 in Saturday's loss at Detroit, surrendering seven runs (three earned) while recording only two outs. The 2008 World Series MVP has struggled as a whole over his last three turns, going 0-2 with an 11.81 ERA. Mark Trumbo is 7-for-20 with three home runs against Hamels, who is 1-4 with a 5.35 ERA in six starts versus Baltimore.

Cobb was tagged for five runs on seven hits - including two homers - over five-plus innings Sunday at Minnesota en route to his fourth straight loss before a blister forced him from the game. The 30-year-old has made only five of his 16 starts at home this season, going 0-4 with a 6.52 ERA at Camden Yards. Shin-Soo Choo (5-for-12, one home run) has thrived while Adrian Beltre (1-for-13) has struggled versus Cobb, who is 1-0 with a 2.91 ERA in five careers starts against Texas.

WALK-OFFS

1. Choo enters this series with a 48-game, on-base streak, tied with Cincinnati's Joey Votto for the second-longest such run in the majors since 2007.

2. Despite watching his 10-game hitting streak come to an end Thursday, Baltimore 2B Jonathan Schoop is batting .378 in July after carrying a .197 average into the month.

3. Texas OF Delino DeShields (neck, shoulder) is expected to be available Friday after he was removed for precautionary reasons Wednesday.

PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Orioles 5