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 Los Angeles Dodgers are one of a few teams who are serious contenders in the National League, but in the past they've made their name with their loaded starting rotation. This year, it's been pretty hit or miss after their formidable 1-2 punch. They've won five of their last six games and lead the NL West.
Past Meetings: These teams haven't met since June 2009, when the Dodgers took two of three games from the Rangers in Arlington.
Pitching Matchups: Monday -- Yovani Gallardo (5-6, 3.45 ERA) vs. Carlos Frias (4-3, 3.86); Tuesday -- Chi Chi Gonzalez (2-1, 0.42) vs. Brett Anderson (2-4, 3.57).
What's Hot: Leonys Martin is the Rangers' hottest hitter over the last week, and it's a good thing because he'll likely be thrust into the leadoff spot for Delino DeShields, who left Sunday's game with an apparent fairly serious hamstring injury. Martin is batting .421 over his last six games. Mitch Moreland has a team-high nine RBIs in his last five games, thanks to his two homers and three doubles. Chi Chi Gonzalez saw his club-record string of 15 scoreless innings to begin a career come to an end in his previous start against Oakland, but he still only allowed one run in seven innings.
Yasiel Puig is back after a lengthy stint on the disabled list, and that's bad news for the rest of the league. The Cuban sensation is batting a cool .500 over his last five games since returning with two doubles and a homer. Andre Ethier has two homers and five RBIs in his last six games.
What's Not: The Rangers' bullpen has fallen on hard times in the last week or so, as Ross Detwiler, Sam Freeman, Jon Edwards and Anthony Bass are all sporting ERAs in double digits over the last week, while Tanner Scheppers (6.75) and Keone Kela (5.40) have also struggled over that time. Prince Fielder is hitting just .200 over his last six games.
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Dodgers rookie sensation Joc Pederson, who is on pace to hit more than 40 homers this year, is ice cold at the moment, hitting just .125 over the last week without an extra-base hit. Slugging first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is hitting just .167 over the same time.
Familiar Faces: Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson was designated for assignment after the Dodgers opened the 2014 season in Sydney, Australia. He was claimed before the Rangers' season began and he ended up having a breakthrough year in 2014 before securing the closer's role for the Rangers a month ago. Conversely, Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez began his career as a Rangers prospect before losing out in the first baseman's derby to Mark Teixeira.
