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Rays Vs. Rangers Series Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The first-place Texas Rangers end a 10-game homestand by welcoming the charging Tampa Bay Rays to Arlington.

Aug 17, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE
Aug 17, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

The Texas Rangers (75-52) face the Tampa Bay Rays (70-57) in the final series of a 10-game homestand that has seen the team take control of the top spot in the American League thanks to seven wins in their past 10 games and an offense that has suddenly caught fire.

The Rangers have scored 44 runs in their past five games thanks to a surging Adrian Beltre and a much more comfortable Josh Hamilton. David Murphy, however, is the one to keep an eye on as he has been the hottest hitter in the major leagues in the month of August, with a .426 average and 1.162 OPS in the past two weeks.

The Tampa Bay Rays head to Arlington fighting for first in the American League East as they trail the New York Yankees by just 4.0 games after being as far as 10.0 games back just over a month ago.

Probable starters for the series:

Aug. 27, 7:05 p.m. CT: LHP Derek Holland (8-6, 4.92) vs. LHP David Price (16-4, 2.28); coverage on FSSW, ESPN and ESPN Radio.

Aug 28, 7:05 p.m. CT: RHP Yu Darvish (12-9, 4.51) vs. RHP James Shields (12-7, 4.01); coverage on FSSW and ESPN Radio.

Aug 29, 6:05 p.m. CT: LHP Matt Harrison (15-7, 3.04) vs. RHP Alex Cobb (8-8, 4.32); coverage on FSSW and ESPN Radio.

Be sure to visit Lone Star Ball for more Rangers coverage, and head over to DRays Bay or more on the Rays. Also visit Baseball Nation for even more news and analysis from around the league.

Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.