The Texas Rangers Play the Oakland A’s in the AL West

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The Texas Rangers Play the Oakland A’s in the AL West

The Texas Rangers are the American League defending champions and will get a challenge from the Oakland A’s.

CJ Wilson will try to win his third straight start with Napoli behind the plate, but he might have to out duel the Oakland Athletics’ Trevor Cahill during Friday night’s opener of a seven-game road trip.

The Rangers (15-10) had a 2.22 ERA while winning nine of their first 10 games this season, but have a 5.25 ERA while dropping nine of 15. Their pitchers had a solid performance for most of Thursday’s series finale with visiting Toronto before giving up three runs in the ninth inning of a 5-2 defeat.

While his teammates have experienced their ups and downs, Wilson (3-0, 3.51 ERA) has done enough to win his last two outings. He hasn’t allowed more than four runs in any game this season and has pitched into the seventh inning in each of his last four.

Wilson has struck out 19 in his past two starts and received help from the Rangers hitters, who have provided 14 runs of support. He gave up a pair of solo homers over his first six innings Sunday against Kansas City before allowing two to score in his final frame during an 8-7 win.

Facing the A’s (12-13) could help Wilson as he was 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in two starts against them in 2010. Oakland has also been shut out three times in its last seven games and scored a combined five runs during a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels to open this week.

Cliff Pennington helped his team earn its only win in that three-game set, 2-1 on Wednesday. He scored the go-ahead run in the 10th inning after his fly ball went off an outfielder’s glove for a leadoff triple.

Even with Napoli as his catcher, Wilson might have to pitch better than Cahill (3-0, 2.30), who is also trying to win a third straight start. The right-hander has allowed one run in four of his five outings this season and in each of his consecutive wins.

Cahill gave up a season-high seven hits Saturday in Seattle but retired 15 of the final 17 batters he faced in a 9-1 win. Look for a pitching duel between these two teams with Oakland coming out on top with the upset.

MLB Picks: Oakland A’s

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