Texas @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2018 ) Texas 6, San Diego 3

The Texas Rangers look to conclude a disappointing road trip with a three-game sweep when they visit the San Diego Padres on Sunday for the finale of their series. The Rangers rallied for five runs in the sixth inning on Saturday and went on to improve to 3-5 on their nine-game trek.

Robinson Chirinos ignited the uprising with a three-run double and scored on Isiah Kiner-Falefa's two-base hit while Joey Gallo belted his 37th homer of the year and 14th versus left-handed pitching, putting him among the league leaders in that category. Adrian Beltre has recorded a pair of doubles in each of the first two games of the series, giving him 633 in his career and moving him past David Ortiz for 11th place on the all-time list. Eric Hosmer provided the offense for San Diego with a three-run homer as the team suffered its fourth consecutive home loss. Franmil Reyes has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 contests as he singled in the setback to extend his hitting streak to seven games.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Mike Minor (12-7, 4.19 ERA) vs. Padres RH Jacob Nix (2-3, 6.00)

Minor has won two straight starts and six of his last seven to climb within one victory of the career high he set in 2013 with Atlanta. The 30-year-old Tennessean is coming off back-to-back triumphs over the Los Angeles Angels in which he allowed three runs and nine hits with 10 strikeouts over 11 innings. Minor improved to 2-3 with a 4.31 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against San Diego on June 27, when he gave up just one hit over seven scoreless frames.

Nix escaped with a no-decision at Cincinnati last Sunday after surrendering six runs and seven hits in four innings. It marked the second consecutive outing and third in six career turns the 22-year-old Californian rookie was reached for at least five runs. Nix, who went 3-3 with a 1.84 ERA in 10 starts in the minors this season, came within two outs of a complete game on Aug. 28 as he limited Seattle to one run en route to victory in his only interleague outing.

WALK-OFFS

1. Beltre's next home run will be the 475th of his career, tying him with Stan Musial and Willie Stargell for 30th place on the all-time list.

2. San Diego C Austin Hedges has recorded back-to-back two-hit performances and hit safely in 10 of his last 11 contests.

3. Texas RHP Chris Martin is day-to-day due to an upper respiratory ailment.

PREDICTION: Rangers 5, Padres 2