Texas @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2018 ) Texas 4, San Diego 0

The Texas Rangers struggled during the first two legs of their trek through California but got off to a good start in their series in the southern part of the state. Texas looks to post back-to-back wins for the first time since the beginning of the month when it visits the San Diego Padres on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game interleague set.

Jurickson Profar was the offensive hero in Friday's series-opening 4-0 victory, going 3-for-4 while delivering an RBI single in the second inning and belting a two-run homer in the seventh. Profar had recorded a total of four hits over his previous nine contests and went deep just once in that span for the Rangers, who improved to 2-5 on their nine-game road trip. Franmil Reyes notched two of the five singles registered in the loss by San Diego, which had its three-game winning streak halted. Reyes is riding a six-game hitting streak during which he has gone 8-for-21 and has hit safely in 16 of his last 17 contests.

TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Ariel Jurado (2-5, 7.03 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Lauer (5-7, 4.80)

Jurado will be making his eighth start of the season but first since Aug. 28 as he came out of the bullpen in each of his last two games - including a loss at Oakland on Sunday in which he yielded five runs on four hits and two walks while retiring only two batters. The 22-year-old Panamanian rookie has lost four straight decisions since working five solid frames in a victory over Baltimore on Aug. 3. Jurado made his lone interleague appearance on Aug. 28, when he permitted three runs and five hits over 2 2/3 innings in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Lauer has been superb since returning from a month-long stint on the disabled list due to a forearm injury, allowing one unearned run and two hits over nine innings in two starts - both no-decisions. The 23-year-old rookie from Ohio has gone 0-2 in five turns since recording his last win, a triumph over the Dodgers on July 10 in which he allowed one run and four hits while coming within one out of a complete game. Lauer's only interleague action occurred on June 19, when he settled for a no-decision against Oakland despite giving up just an unearned run and three hits in six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre recorded a pair of doubles Friday to raise his career hits total to 3,155 and pass George Brett for 15th place on the all-time list.

2. San Diego C Francisco Mejia has recorded a hit in three straight games and five of his last seven.

3. Texas RHP Tony Barnette, who went 2-0 with a 2.39 ERA in 22 relief appearances, has been shut down for the season after attempting to return from a sprained shoulder.

PREDICTION: Padres 4, Rangers 2