CJ Wilson Shuts Down Rays As Rangers Win Another Series

C.J. Wilson takes the mound for the Texas Rangers on Thursday night as the Rangers look to rebound from Wednesday night's loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. 

James Shields baffled Texas' bats on Wednesday, surrendering just four hits and a walk while striking out seven without giving up a run in eight innings en route to a 4-1 Tampa Bay win. The Rangers will look to rebound offensively against Jeff Niemann, who carries a 9-5 record, 3.46 ERA and 1.18 WHIP into Thursday's rubber match. Niemann has issued just 28 walks in 112 innings this year, so the Rangers will have to earn their baserunners against Tampa on Thursday.

Wilson gets the nod for the Rangers as he looks to earn his 14th win of the season. Wilson was torched in his most recent outing, surrendering six runs on 10 hits to the Angels - with four of those hits being home runs. Despite the awful outing, Wilson's numbers are still very good on the season as he carries a 1.23 WHIP and .239 BAA into Thursday night's game.

The Rangers, despite the loss on Wednesday, maintained their 3.5 game lead over the second-place Los Angeles Angels thanks to the Mariners coming from behind to beat the Angels on Wednesday. Los Angeles and Seattle will conclude their series tonight in Seattle as Ervin Santana takes on Charlie Furbush.

First pitch from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT.

The Texas Rangers look to keep their modest winning streak rolling on Wednesday night as they send Alexi Ogando to the mound to take on James Shields and the Tampa Bay Rays in the middle game of a three game set.

Ogando was pounded by the Red Sox in his most recent outing, giving up six runs in four innings while serving up four home runs as well. Prior to the game, Ogando had given up just 12 home runs all season. Still, Ogando's numbers are excellent on the year, as he is the owner of a 3.57 ERA and 1.14 WHIP headed into Wednesday's contest against the Rays.

Texas' offense will be faced with another difficult task as the Rays send James Shields to the mound. Shields has been excellent for the Rays this year, spinning 10 complete games in 27 starts this season. Shields takes a 1.05 WHIP, .222 BAA and 2.96 ERA into the contest. He's struck out 191 in 201 innings of work on the season as well.

Texas still holds onto a 3.5 game lead in the AL West. The Angels take on the Mariners tonight as both teams send aces to the mound - Dan Haren for Los Angeles and Felix Hernandez for Seattle. 

First pitch in Arlington is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CDT.

The Rangers entered another tough series Monday with an unfavorable pitching matchup: Scott Feldman versus likely rookie of the year Jeremy Hellickson. Feldman was filling in for Matt Harrison, with Harrison fading in the August heat.

Feldman came through, throwing six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk, and inducing 13 ground balls and just one out in the air – a pop caught in the infield. Hellickson held serve through five, wiggling out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth. Josh Hamilton led off the sixth with a 449-foot blast, and David Murphy singled home Michael Young for a second run before Hellickson departed.

Mark Lowe, Darren Oliver, Mike Adams and Neftali Feliz finished off the shutout, with Lowe, Oliver and Adams completing perfect seventh and eighth innings. Feliz allowed a single and a walk to start the ninth, but a fielder’s choice and a GIDP by Evan Longoria ended the game.

Alexi Ogando will face off against James Shields Wednesday, as the Rangers try to protect their 3.5 game lead over the Angels.