The Texas Rangers cannot catch a break on the injury front. The team has managed to get by as Adrian Beltre, Jurickson PRofar, Geovany Soto and Shin-Soo Choo sit out for various issues and now they might be adding another to the mix. Kevin Kouzmanoff might not be capable of playing on Wednesday as Texas faces off against the Oakland Athletics in hopes of getting the series sweep.
The Rangers are trying to fill holes, but Kouzmanoff is a big blow. He entered Tuesday hitting .370 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 12 games. He had been playing in place of Beltre, but left with tightness in his back. Choo might be back by Friday, offering some relief, but for the time being Michael Choice will start. He got the go-ahead run for the team on Tuesday.
The Rangers will send Martin Perez to the mound to get the sweep of the Athletics. The pitcher is 3-0 on the season with a 1.86 ERA, giving up just five hits in eight innings to Houston before giving up just three hits to the Chicago White Sox. Perez might be surging to start the year, but traditionally he has struggled against Oakland. He has a 5.79 ERA in five starts against the team.
Sonny Gray will take the mound for Oakland. The pitcher is also 3-0 on the season with a 1.80 ERA. He struggled against Houston in his last start, giving up nine hits and three runs in six innings, but he still got the win. It was the first time this season that he gave up more than one earned run. He has a strong history against the Rangers, having won seven of his last 10 meetings, but the Athletics will have to start swinging the bats better if they want to avoid a sweep to the Rangers.