Slumping Rangers Send Max Scherzer to Cool Off O’s
The Texas Rangers will try to snap a four-game losing streak with perhaps the ideal pitcher going to the mound Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles. Max Scherzer is back in action, and the Rangers need a vintage performance from him to turn things around.
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Recent Struggles
Rangers’ Performance
The Orioles hit four home runs in their 11-2 series-opening romp on Thursday, marking the first meeting between the teams since the playoffs last October.
“We made a lot of mistakes in the middle of the plate, and this team doesn’t miss them,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “They’ve got some good hitters there. They didn’t miss them. … (They are) the best offensive team in baseball and they took advantage of mistakes.”
Orioles’ Power Display
Home Run Hitters
Baltimore’s homers came from a group that didn’t include some of their top sluggers like Gunnar Henderson, who ranks second in the majors with 26 home runs, and other power hitters Anthony Santander and Jordan Westburg. The depth of the Orioles’ power hitters is impressive.
“Everybody feeds off each other,” Orioles outfielder Heston Kjerstad said, who smashed his first homer of the season. “Everybody gets up there; you want to follow the guy who’s in front of you. The dude behind you wants to follow what you do.”
Max Scherzer’s Role
Max Scherzer’s Comeback
Scherzer (1-0, 0.00 Period) is planned to show up of the time. On Sunday, he pitched five innings without giving up a hit or drawing a walk while striking out four Royals. He struck out on 39 of his 57 pitches.
“It makes you appreciate how good this man is,” Bochy said. “In his first start back to throw the ball like that. … Glad to see him out there, and you saw him competing at his finest.”
Scherzer experienced some thumb soreness after his season debut, but he is expected to be ready for Friday’s assignment in Baltimore. Scherzer, who has dealt with various ailments throughout his career, knows how to navigate these challenges.
“I’m trying to navigate it, but I’m trying to not get hurt,” he said.
Scherzer won 13 games combined between the New York Mets and Texas last year. In 14 career starts against the Orioles, he holds a 7-2 record and a 3.17 ERA. In 96 2/3 innings, he has struck out 124.
Orioles’ Pitching Situation
The Orioles will use right-hander Albert Suarez, who is 3-2 with a 2.70 earned run average, to start on Friday night. Suarez is attempting to end a personal two-game losing streak in which he has pitched 8 1/3 innings and given up eight runs, 16 hits, and eight walks. Wounds have driven him once again into a revolution spot.
Suarez has never confronted the Officers, who had 12 hits yet just two runs in the main round of the series.
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Wounds and Player Updates
Adley Rutschman’s Status
Catcher Adley Rutschman hit one of Baltimore’s homeruns on Thursday night yet additionally supported a swollen right hand after a foul tip behind the plate, placing his status for Friday being referred to.
“It will be sore,” Orioles director Brandon Hyde said. ” He got it in sort of a peculiar spot there on his hand, yet he needed to remain in the game.”
Conclusion
The Rangers will heavily rely on Max Scherzer to deliver a strong performance against a potent Orioles lineup in order to end their losing streak. With the two groups managing different difficulties, Friday’s down vows to be a basic matchup in deciding the course of their particular seasons.