The Texas Rangers seek a three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians Thursday night at home and might have to do so without sluggers Adrian Beltre and Josh Hamilton.
Both players continued their amazing offensive seasons with homers in Wednesday night's 5-2 win over Cleveland, but both players left the game early: Beltre in the fifth with a strained left shoulder after making a diving play and Hamilton before the eighth with left knee soreness.
Every game counts for the AL West-leading Rangers (85-57), who are trying to hold off the surging Oakland Athletics for the division. Texas leads by three games. It will send Derek Holland (10-6, 4.59 ERA) to the mound against Cleveland (59-84), which counters with Zach McAllister (5-7, 4.31).
First pitch from the Ballpark in Arlington is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. The game can be seen Fox Sports Southwest.
Head over to Lone Star Ball and SB Nation Dallas for more on the Rangers. For the Cleveland perspective, check out Let's Go Tribe and SB Nation Cleveland. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel: