When surging Texas goes for a three-game sweep of the visiting Chicago White Sox on Sunday at Globe Life Park in Arlington
Christian Kirk Color Rush Jersey , Texas, Cole Hamels, the pitcher the Rangers expected to be their bell cow in this season of rebuilding, will be on the mound.
It remains to be seen how much longer Hamels (4-6, with a 3.61 ERA) stays in that position. He could, instead, be a huge piece to the puzzle in a trade that would net more prospects for a team in dire need of them.
The White Sox will send right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (3-5, 3.73 ERA) to the mound in the series finale.
The Rangers beat Chicago 13-4 on Saturday behind five solid innings from the ageless Bartolo Colon, a three-run double from Robinson Chirinos, a home run from Joey Gallo and a seven-run eighth inning.
Texas was without designated hitter Shin-Soo Choo on Saturday as he battles right quad soreness and was given the night off.
Choo said his upper quad has been bothering him over the past 10 days, but he’s played through it well enough to extend his streak of reaching base to 41 straight games
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“I felt like it was an opportunity to get him off his legs, give him a day,” manager Jeff Banister told mlb.com about Choo’s absence from the starting lineup. “He’s played through it for a while.”
Choo underwent an MRI at his own request on Saturday and said afterward he does not believe the injury is serious.
“I know I have the streak going on, but my body and staying healthy is more important,” Choo said. “And winning games is more important than records. I don’t want to make it worse. I don’t think it’s serious.”
Chicago is another team building from the ground up but already has its second baseman of the future, Yoan Moncada, on the field as an everyday player. Moncada, who was acquired from Boston as part of the trade that sent Chris Sale to the Red Sox, has struggled through the first half of the season, hitting just .225 after batting .231 in 54 games last season.
He also has a team-high 13 errors at second base.
“I did not expect to have as many tough, difficult moments as I’ve been having
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Lopez will make his 17th start of the season, 10th on the road and second against the Rangers this season when he takes the hill on Sunday. He is 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA over his past three road starts. His last time out, on June 26, Lopez earned the win versus Minnesota, allowing four runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings in an 8-4 Chi-Sox victory.
Lopez is receiving a 3.45 run support average this season, the ninth-lowest in the AL. He will be making his third career start against the Rangers and second at Globe Life Park.
Lopez garnered the win in his last start against Texas on May 20 in Chicago, pitching eight scoreless innings.
Hamels will also make his 17th start of the season and leads all Texas starters in ERA (3.61), starts (16), innings (97 1/3)
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Hamels will be working on five days’ rest and last worked and took a no-decision in the Rangers’ 7-4 win on Monday at home against San Diego. He allowed a season-high nine hits in that game, exiting after trailing 4-1 in the sixth, ending a streak of eight straight starts six-plus or more innings pitched.
Hamels has gone 2-0 with a 2.86 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox, recording quality starts in three of those four outings.
Ross Stripling pitched another gem and Justin Turner drove in two runs to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 win over the Angels on Saturday night.
Stripling (7-2) is making a strong case to make the NL All-Star team with another terrific outing. He allowed just one run and three hits – all by Mike Trout – in six innings. The right-hander struck out seven and walked none, and lowered his ERA to 2.14.
After blowing a save opportunity on Friday night, Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 24th save.
The 28-year-old Stripling retired nine of the last 10 batters he faced for the Dodgers, who have won five of their last six games.
Trout went 3 for 3 against Stripling, including a solo home run to left-center field in the sixth inning for his 25th of the season and 50th RBI. Trout, who finished 3 for 4 overall in his 11th three-hit game of the season, is now 5 for 5 with two home runs in his career against Stripling.
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani fouled a ball off what appeared to be his right foot in the ninth during his at-bat against Jansen. After a trainer, interpreter and Mike Scioscia went to check on him
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Turner hit a two-out single in the fifth inning off Taylor Cole (0-1) to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
Yasiel Puig hit a two-out, solo home run to center field off Noe Ramirez in the ninth to put the Dodgers ahead 3-1.
Deck McGuire made his second start for the Angels. He allowed one hit and struck out six in three innings in his first career appearance against the Dodgers.
In the fourth inning, reliever Jose Alvarez got Cody Bellinger and Matt Kemp to ground out, but then walked Yasmani Grandal and was pulled in favor of Cole.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Dodgers: RHP Yimi Garcia (right forearm inflammation) was placed on the disabled list. … LHP Rich Hill (sore neck) is expected to make his scheduled start on Tuesday against San Diego. … RHP Walker Buehler (right rib micro fracture) is scheduled to throw a five-inning simulated game Sunday. Dave Roberts expects him to make a start next weekend against the Angels.
Angels: LHP Tyler Skaggs (right adductor strain) will throw a bullpen this weekend. … RHP Jim Johnson (lumbar strain) is scheduled to start a rehab assignment at Class A Inland Empire on Sunday.
UP NEXT
Dodgers: LHP Alex Wood (5-5, 3.84 ERA) got the win in the Dodgers’ 17-1 victory over Pittsburgh last week. He allowed one run on six hits and walked none in six innings.
Angels: LHP Andrew Heaney (4-6, 3.94 ERA) is grooving in his last six starts at home, where he is 4-1 with a 0.88 ERA. He’s 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers.
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