The Rangers need to get back on track, and they need to do it fast.
Obviously, this is easier said than done, and it appears even more bleak when you consider (a) Baltimore’s 4-2 record coming off of strong performances against the revamped Yankees and the A.L. Champion Rays, and (b) starter Vicente Padilla’s recent history against the Os.
Padilla is 0-3 in his last three starts against Baltimore, with a bloated 15.43 ERA. This doesn’t augur well for a team whose bullpen has been the point of most concern of late.
Of course, the difficulty of Padilla’s task would be assuaged dramatically if Texas can find the bats that they presumably left in Arlington after the Cleveland series. The team scored just under thirty runs that series; in Detroit, they scored nine, and batted a quiet .138.
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Padilla and the Rangers will face 34 year-old Japanese rookie, Koji Uehara, who threw five kind of brilliant innings against the Yankees in his Major League debut on Wednesday, surrendering five hits and one run. The Orioles won that game 7-5.
File under “somewhat encouraging” the fact that Uehara recorded 7 of 15 outs on fly balls; in a band box like the Rangers’ Ballpark, and given the intrinsic power of this Texas lineup, fly balls may find more seats than gloves on Monday.
Texas, of course, is sitting at .500 after three encouraging performances against Cleveland at home and three equally (ugly and) discouraging performances in Detroit.
First baseman Chris Davis is looking to break out of a 1 for 22 slump to begin the season, and Josh Hamilton will look to build on his first home run of the season on Sunday. Both players are historically, significantly better in night games, and Davis recorded his only hit of the season in Texas’ only previous night game, last Wednesday against Cleveland.
Texas did win the season series with Baltimore last year, 5-4, and they are 13-7 against them over the past four years. However, Brian Roberts and Nick Markakis are card-carrying Ranger-killers.
Roberts has a .583 (7-12) career average against Padilla. Markakis’ .641 career slugging percentage against Texas is his highest against any club in the majors.
Things admittedly seem to be looking a little grim. But let’s look at the bright side: Texas is 3-0 in the friendly confines of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington this season.
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