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 2016 season.
The Opponent: The Orioles suffered their first loss of the season on Wednesday night in Boston as they fell to 7-1 on the season.
Past Meetings: The Rangers went 6-1 against the Orioles last year, sweeping them in Arlington and taking three of four games in Baltimore.
Pitching Matchups: Thursday — Chris Tillman (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (2-0, 2.08); Friday — Vance Worley (0-0, 3.86) vs. Martin Perez (0-1, 3.65); Saturday — Yovani Gallardo (1-0, 5.40) vs. Colby Lewis (1-0, 3.00); Sunday — Mike Wright (1-0, 7.20) vs. Derek Holland (1-0, 2.31).
What's Hot: Ryan Rua is batting .500 in his last three games, and Nomar Mazara had a hit in each of his first three games before going hitless on Wednesday, but he still reached base via walk. Elvis Andrus is batting .364 with four RBIs in his last six games. Despite losing a game Wednesday, the Rangers' bullpen has come together and been dominant over the last week.
Manny Machado is a man possessed right now. He's batting .520 with three homers and four RBIs in six games. Mark Trumbo is at .375 with two bombs over the same time.
What's Not: Martin Perez registered a quality start his last time out, but it wasn't pretty as he had five walks and no strikeouts while giving up seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
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Chris Davis is batting just .217 over his last six games, but he does have three long balls and eight RBIs. When you're talking about a 7-1 team, not much can be found that isn't going well.
Familiar Faces: Yovani Gallardo might've been the Rangers' best pitcher from start to finish last year and was masterful against the Blue Jays in the Rangers' Game 1 win in the ALDS. Now, he's in Baltimore. Chris Davis continues to enjoy great success since leaving Texas as a young, seemingly lost player. Last year, he led all of baseball with 47 homers.
