By Austin McNabb
The Texas Rangers open up a critical three-game series against the AL West-leading Oakland A’s at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington Friday.
Oakland (85-61) leads the Rangers (81-64) by 3 ½ games after giving up their lead to Texas in August.
After getting hot with a 20-7 record in the month of August, Texas has cooled down in the month of September at 2-8.
In 2012, the Rangers blew the AL West lead in late September, losing nine of their last 13 games, including getting swept by the A’s. Texas had to settle for the one game wild card playoff where they lost to the Baltimore Orioles, ending their season.
The A’s will be looking to do what the Rangers did in 2010 and 2011, winning back-to-back division titles. However, this time around, Oakland is in the driver’s seat to win it. The A’s have won 10 of their last 13 after being behind Texas by as many as three games in late August.
Texas has struggled on the mound and at the plate.
Rangers slugger Adrian Beltre is 5-31 over his last eight games.
The pitching hasn’t gone well for the Rangers either with a 5.40 ERA over their last seven games.
Rangers starting pitcher Derek Holland (9-8, 3.17 ERA) will start the series off Friday for Texas, and has lost his last two starts.
Meanwhile, the A’s look to keep rolling behind starting pitcher Dan Straily (9-7, 4.15 ERA), who has had a 1.50 ERA over his last three starts.
After this division battle with the A’s, the Rangers will go play wild card teams and potential playoff opponents in Tampa Bay and Kansas City before coming home to visit the last place Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels.
First pitch starts at 7:05 Friday in Arlington.
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