On Deck will be here all season to provide you with everything you need to know (and a few things you don't) about every Rangers series during the 2015 season.
The Opponent: The Orioles have won seven of their last 10 games and have streaked to the top of the tightly packed AL East, tied with Tampa Bay atop the division.
Past Meetings: The Rangers won just one of seven matchups against the Orioles last year and were swept in a four-game series in Baltimore. This is the teams' first meeting this season.
Pitching Matchups: Monday — Wandy Rodriguez (4-3, 4.06 ERA) vs. Bud Norris (2-6, 6.70); Tuesday — Colby Lewis (7-3, 4.10) vs. Miguel Gonzalez (6-4, 3.58); Wednesday — Nick Martinez (5-4, 3.39) vs. Wei-Yin Chen (3-4, 2.90); Thursday — Yovani Gallardo (7-6, 2.72) vs. TBD
What's Hot: You wouldn't know it from their lack of runs over the weekend, but the Rangers have some guys who are raking at the plate right now, led, of course, by Prince Fielder, who's hitting .478 over the last six games. Over that same span, Elvis Andrus is batting .417 with four doubles and three RBI, and Rougned Odor is hitting .391 with two homers and a team-leading four RBIs. The bullpen troika of Shawn Tolleson, Tanner Scheppers and Spencer Patton has posted a 0.00 ERA in the last week. Unfortunately, those are the only three who have been good in the last week and they haven't seen much action since the team has been losing games.
Manny Machado is hitting .320 and former Ranger Chris Davis is hitting .318 over the last week, and the two youngsters are tied for the team lead over the last six games with five RBIs.
What's Not: Wandy Rodriguez had his worst outing of the year against Oakland, giving up eight runs on 11 hits in just four innings of work. Nick Martinez gave up nine runs of his own in six innings of work his last time out against Toronto. Leonys Martin is 1-for-21 over his last six games and lost a start to Joey Gallo in center field — Gallo's first-ever appearance in center, like ever.
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Gonzalez gave up four runs in five innings last time out, and Norris allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings on seven hits. None of his runs were earned, but it's clear he was getting hit pretty well. The Rangers are actually missing Baltimore's two hottest starters in Ubaldo Jimenez and Chris Tillman.
Familiar Faces: The Rangers East contingency has dwindled some in recent years, but it's led by former Rangers skipper Buck Showalter. Some of his players include Chris Davis, Tommy Hunter and Darren O'Day.
