PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Frankie Montas (7-2, 2.83 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Drew Smyly (1-4, 7.93) <\/p>\n
Montas has allowed three or fewer earned runs this year after yielding four hits and two runs in six innings of a victory over the Angels. The 26-year-old Dominican native boasts a 1.17 WHIP and .237 batting average against this year with 69 strikeouts in 70 innings. Montas is 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in five games (two starts) against Texas after an 11-5 victory over the Rangers on April 23 in which he permitted three runs and nine hits in 5??2\/3 frames.
\nSmyly allowed seven runs and eight hits in each of his last two starts – reductions also at Seattle 8-7 and to Baltimore 12-11 on Tuesday on May 29 – while yielding a joint five home runs in 8??1\/3 innings. The 29-year-old Arkansas native, who is 0-2 with a 7.43 ERA in six home starts this season, is saddled with a 1.86 WHIP and .283 batting average against. Smyly is 1-2 with a 5.83 ERA in eight games (five starts) versus Oakland, such as a no-decision when he allowed four runs in five innings of Texas’ 8-6 loss to the Athletics on April 12.
\nWALK-OFFS
\n1. Oakland’s Josh Phegley along with the New York Yankees’ Gary Sanchez lead all catchers with 37 RBIs later Phegley delivered a two-run pinch-hit double and a home run in Saturday’s opener.
\n2. Rangers 3B Asdrubal Cabrera has 29 of his 35 RBIs this year after having a two-run only.
\n3. The Athletics are this year.<\/p>\n