Reds Give Texas Rangers Chance to Feast Before Yankees
The Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds haven’t met much in Interleague play. But the Rangers are catching the Reds at a fortuitous time, starting a three-game series Monday night at Great American Ballpark.
Texas opens with Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 5.40), while the Reds counter with Nick Lodolo (2-1, 4.98). First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m.
The Rangers (14-7) are first in the American League West and have won their last four series. During that stretch, Texas went 9-3 by feasting on losing teams.
The Rangers met the Kansas City Royals, one of the worst teams in baseball, twice during that span and went 5-1. The Oakland Athletics are in that conversation, too, and just lost two of three to Texas over the weekend at Globe Life Field.
Only the Houston Astros are considered postseason contenders. The Rangers caught the defending World Series champions at the right time, winning two out of three games in Houston. The Astros have surged since then, going 5-1 and moving within 2 1/2 games of Texas.
But while the Astros will face the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays (19-3) next, the Rangers get the 7-15 Cincinnati Reds, who are coming off a four-game sweep by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Reds offer another chance to rack up some wins before hosting the New York Yankees for four games starting Thursday. Each of the Rangers last three series opponents were last in their respective division, with Texas going 5-1 against the A's and Royals so far.
The Reds are 9-10 all-time against Texas, but 6-5 at home.
The Reds have historically not been a good team against the AL in Interleague. Going into this season the Reds had the worst Interleague winning percentage of an team (.432). The Reds are 1-2 this season after a three-games series with the Rays.
So while the Astros are facing the club with the best record in MLB, the Rangers are in position to put just a little more distance between themselves and the rest of the AL West before returning to Globe Life Field.
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