Rangers @ Baltimore

Tonight the Rangers start a 3 game series against Buck Showalter's new team. Showalter was the manager of the Rangers before Ron Washington took over some 4 years ago. The Orioles are seemingly much improved under the short tenure of Showalter. That combined with some nice additions in the offseason, including the Rangers 2010 Silver Slugging DH, Vladimir Geurerro, and some solid young pitching should make for an exciting match up this weekend.

The Rangers send Colby Lewis to the mound to take on young Oriole, Zach Britton. The Rangers are looking a lot like the best team in baseball through 6 games, and I don't see any reason why that won't carry into Baltimore this weekend. The Rangers have dominated in Camden Yards for the past couple of seasons including a record breaking 30-3 win in 2009.

You have to think the slugging we've seen in Arlington will continue in Baltimore this weekend as well, considering the Rangers big bats will be seeing a lot of young pitchers, and Vladdy won't be looking to disappoint his "shipmates" from last season.

The Rangers will put Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, and Derek Holland on the mound this weekend to face respectively, Britton, Chris Tillman, and Jeremy Guthrie. Here's how I see it breaking down:

Game 1:

Lewis: 7 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Britton: 5 IP, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Rangers win 9-5


Game 2:

Harrison: 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
Tillman: 6 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Rangers first loss of the season: 6-3


Game 3:

Holland: 7 IP, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
Guthrie: 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Rangers win 6-5

Rangers - Mariners Preview

Tonight, the Seattle Mariners travel from Oakland to face the Texas Rangers in Arlington. Derek Holland is moved up to 4th in the rotation to face Seattle's Erik Bedard. Each pitcher is making their first start of the season. Bedard is coming off a 2010 season in which he didn't sat out the entire season due to a torn labrum. Holland makes his first start since the regular season, although he pitched in relief in the playoffs, putting together particularly good innings against the Yankees in the ALCS.

In game two on Tuesday, Alexi Ogando makes his first start after replacing Tommy Hunter who is on the disabled list. He'll go up against Michael Pineda, who has made the Mariners rotation as the 5th starter. Wednesday's game provides the best pitching matchup of the series when CJ Wilson goes head-to-head with reigning Cy Young winner, Felix Hernandez. Expect a pitcher's dual in this one to the late innings.

The Mariners have one of the least productive offenses in baseball, as compared to the Texas Rangers, although they are a team of big league hitters, and can certainly score some runs if not respected from the mound.

My predictions for the series:

Derek Holland: 6 IP, 2 ER, W
Erik Bedard: 4 2/3 IP, 6 ER, L
Rangers Win 8-3

Alexi Ogando: 6 IP, 4 ER, No Decision
Michael Pineda: 5 IP, 5 ER, No Deicision
Rangers Win 7-6

CJ Wilson: 7 IP, 3 ER, L
Felix Hernandez: 8 IP, 1 ER, W
Rangers Lose 3-1

Home runs in the series: Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Michael Young, Mitch Moreland
Adam Kennedy, Justin Smoak

Miscellaneous: Ichiro gets on base 10 times in the series, and makes some crazy spiderman catch up a wall in right field.