Who comes out on top in Rangers-A’s opener?
Seemingly everyone adores Derek Holland’s eccentric personality off the field. Texas would greatly appreciate less of a Jekyll and Hyde routine, though, when the lefty takes the rubber.
Holland aims to turn around a horrendous start to the month as his Rangers meet the Athletics tonight, with a 10:05 p.m. ET first pitch out West. The AL West leaders are regarded as slight favorites in the eyes of oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv. Oakland enters as a +108 underdog.
Affectionately known as the man of a thousand imitations, Holland (3-2, 6.09 ERA) inhabited the role of ace hurler in April. He went 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in his first five starts and completed at least five innings in each. Over his last two turns, however, the Ohio native is 0-1 with 16 runs permitted in just five total frames.
The one element on which manager Jeff Banister can always count, of course, remains as unswerving as ever. Texas pounded out nine hits in Sunday’s 7-6 triumph over Toronto. As far as individual standouts go, Nomar Mazara’s raking at a .314 clip, while Ian Desmond’s at .370 over the past six. They’ll likely see some tantalizing offerings from Sean Manaea (0-1, 11.37), who limped through 2 2/3 innings of Tuesday’s 13-5 loss in Boston.
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Having gone 3-10 this month, the A’s desperately need to begin this series on a positive note. Unless third baseman Danny Valencia (.342 average with five homers) turns on a couple of Holland fastballs, though, Oakland doesn’t boast the horses to compete with the Rangers deep into the evening. One way or another, the rawhide’s bound to fly out of Oakland Coliseum.
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