Texas @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2019 ) Texas 3, Oakland 12

After opening the three-game series with an 8-0 triumph, the Oakland Athletics surpassed that run total in the first two innings on Saturday and cruised to a 12-3 victory. The Athletics look to complete their second series sweep of the Texas Rangers in two weekends and post their 11th win in 12 overall contests when they play their regular-season home finale on Sunday.

Marcus Semien and rookie Sheldon Neuse each recorded three hits and two RBIs for Oakland, which scored seven runs in the first inning and two more in the second en route to maintaining its two-game lead over Tampa Bay for the top wild-card spot in the American League. Semien has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 contests, recording six multi-hit performances in that span - including four three-hit efforts. The 29-year-old shortstop, who walked three times on Saturday to reach base in all six of his plate appearances, leads the team with 90 RBIs and has belted seven of his career-high 32 homers this month. Elvis Andrus, Danny Santana and Nick Solak hit solo shots for Texas, which has lost seven straight contests and scored a total of seven runs over the last five.

TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Lance Lynn (14-11, 3.77 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Tanner Roark (10-8, 4.12)

Lynn's winless streak reached eight starts on Tuesday as he suffered his fifth loss during the drought after yielding four runs and seven hits - three homers - in seven innings at Houston. The 32-year-old native of Indiana, who hasn't won since Aug. 2 against Detroit, has reached the 100-pitch mark in each of his last 22 turns and 29 of 31 overall this season - one shy of the club record set in 1989 by Nolan Ryan. Lynn has gone 1-1 with a 6.46 ERA in three career starts versus Oakland - all this year.

Roark is riding a six-start unbeaten streak during which he has recorded three victories, but he did not factor in the decision against Kansas City on Monday after giving up four runs over 4 2/3 innings. The 32-year-old from Illinois is 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA in five turns at home since being acquired from Cincinnati, allowing five runs over 24 frames in the first four outings. Roark has yet to defeat Texas in his career, falling to 0-3 despite posting a 2.25 ERA in three starts after permitting four runs - two earned - in seven innings on June 15 while with the Reds.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers OF Hunter Pence (back), who has been sidelined since Aug. 22, could be done for the year as the team has only seven games remaining and he has yet to do any serious work with a bat.

2. Oakland 1B Mark Canha has homered in back-to-back games and registered two hits in three straight contests.

3. Texas' Isiah Kiner-Falefa on Saturday made his first start at catcher since June 6 and went 0-for-4.

PREDICTION: Rangers 6, Athletics 4