Game: Baltimore Orioles @ Texas Rangers
Time: 8:03 p.m.
Odds: Orioles +121, Rangers -131
Total: 9
The Baltimore Orioles are in a jam. They led the American League this season with 101 wins in the regular season. They earned the top seed in the AL playoffs, but they have yet to win a game and are in danger of being swept when they face Texas tonight in Game 3 of their best-of-five series. Tonight marks the Rangers’ first home playoff game this season. They are 4-0, all on the road, including 3-2 and 11-8 victories over the Orioles in Baltimore.
Texas hasn’t played at home since Sept. 24. The Rangers finished the regular season with a seven-game road trip on the West Coast. Then, they entered the postseason as the No. 6 seed in the AL. That sent the team to Tampa where the Rangers took care of the Rays in two games. Now, they are faced with another opportunity to sweep their opponent, though this time it’s at home.
Mitch Garver will be in the Rangers lineup tonight. He was the designated hitter in Sunday’s 11-8 Texas victory in Game 2. Garver hit a grand slam and drove in five runs. He hadn’t gotten a hit in the Rangers’ first three postseason games. Texas manager Bruce Bochy said that Garver will have a spot somewhere after his huge home run.
Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 1.35) will start for the Rangers tonight. The right-hander was not all that sharp in his final two regular season starts. Eovaldi allowed 12 runs in 8.1 innings, but he bounced back with a huge win over Tampa Bay in the wild card series. He pitched 6.2 innings, struck out eight, gave up six hits, and allowed just one run. Eovaldi did not walk a batter either.
In 18 career starts against Baltimore, Eovaldi is 8-2 with a 3.23 ERA. Orioles hitters Ryan Mountcastle (6-for-18) and Austin Hays (8-for-25) have done well against Eovaldi while guys like Aaron Hicks (4-for-23) and Anthony Santander (4-for-21) have struggled.
Opposite Eovaldi, Baltimore will start right-hander Dean Kremer (13-5, 4.12). Kremer has yet to pitch in the postseason. He hasn’t pitched since Sept. 28 against the Boston Red Sox. Kremer pitched 5.1 innings and did not allow a run. Baltimore beat Boston 2-0. Kremer did face Texas once this season back in May. He lost that start after giving up three runs on five hits over 6.1 innings. For his career, Kremer has started three games against the Rangers. He’s 0-1 with a 5.17 ERA. Both Garver (2-for-4) and Marcu Semien (4-for-12) have hit home runs off of Kremer.
The Rangers are now 5-1 SU in their last six games and they have won five straight at home. They are, however, just 1-5 in their last six against Baltimore at Globe Life Field. Baltimore has won just one of its last four games and will be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss tonight.
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