Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
BAL	2	3	0	2	0	2	0	0	1	10	15	0
TEX	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	5	8	0

Povich is two starts into a comeback from a three-month shoulder absence, and his first one back was about as good as it gets — 6 scoreless innings against the Angels with 7 strikeouts. Rocker's been more up-and-down for Texas, working with a 4.08 ERA and, at times, in a piggyback role to avoid rough first innings. Sunday's matchup, first pitch at 1:35 PM CT, pits a reclamation project against a guy still hunting for consistency.

Show fees

FINAL

Spread

ML

Total

Orioles(56-61)

LLLWW

10

+1.5-174+117o8.5+113

Rangers(59-58)

WWWWL

5

-1.5+170-120u8.5-111

Best BetRangers -129

Pregame

Texas is 4-for-4 in its last 5 and hasn't needed much magic to beat this same Baltimore team twice already this series, which backs up the shorter home price. The Orioles counter with a red-hot Povich, but he only pitches once every 5 days and the rest of a depleted roster hasn't shown much punch. Lean Rangers to keep the streak alive.

Baltimore's rotation is in flux after trading away Adley Rutschman and a chunk of the bullpen at the deadline, so Povich's return could hardly have come at a better time for a staff that needs innings. Texas, meanwhile, is missing Josh Jung and Danny Jansen but has gotten by fine, riding a healthier roster into its best stretch since May. The board's taken notice of the pace question in this one, with the over's price drifting toward even money.

Cade Povich

(2-1)·4.45 ERA

Aug 4 vs Angels

W

6.0IP

0ER

7K

1BB

88P

08/09 Lineup

Kumar Rocker

(4-10)·4.46 ERA

Aug 2 @ Astros

ND

5.1IP

3ER

5K

2BB

88P

08/09 Lineup

None of that changes the standings pressure both sides are under. Baltimore sits under .500 and openly sold at the deadline, while Texas just clawed back to .500 for the first time since May — this series has been a measuring stick for which direction each team is actually trending.

Baltimore Orioles

(56-61)

Aug 8L@ Rangers1-5

Aug 8L@ Rangers1-2

Aug 6Lvs Angels1-4

Aug 5Wvs Angels5-2

Aug 4Wvs Angels3-1

Texas Rangers

(59-58)

Aug 8Wvs Orioles5-1

Aug 8Wvs Orioles2-1

Aug 5Wvs Giants6-0

Aug 5Wvs Giants5-4

Aug 4Lvs Giants1-5

The first two games of this set haven't been close, either. Shane Baz needed 8 innings and 9 strikeouts to win the opener while allowing just a single run, and Jacob deGrom followed with a win of his own the next day — Texas has gotten frontline production even before Rocker takes the ball Sunday.

Baltimore Orioles

(10)

• 10-Day-ILBlaze Alexander (3B) — Alexander played catch Friday for the first time since sustaining a fractured left hand before the All-Star break, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.08/07
• 10-Day-ILSamuel Basallo (C) — Manager Craig Albernaz said Tuesday that Basallo (shoulder) is close to participating in both his catching and hitting progressions and could be cleared for a rehab assignment within the next two weeks, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.08/04
• 60-Day-ILFelix Bautista (RP) — Bautista (shoulder) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.08/04
• 60-Day-ILChris Bassitt (SP) — Bassitt (back) struck out four and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk Sunday in a rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk. He also hit three batters.08/03
• 60-Day-ILRyan Helsley (RP) — Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Friday that Helsley (elbow) has resumed a throwing program, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.07/31
• 60-Day-ILColin Selby (RP) — Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Friday that Selby underwent right shoulder surgery Tuesday to repair his labrum and rotator cuff, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.07/31
• 60-Day-ILRyan Mountcastle (1B) — The Orioles announced that Mountcastle (foot) suffered a "significant" oblique strain while warming up for his first rehab game and will now be out a couple more months, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.07/31
• 60-Day-ILKeegan Akin (RP) — Akin (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.07/15
• 60-Day-ILJordan Westburg (3B) — Westburg (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Andrew Golden of TheBanner.com reports.05/15
• 60-Day-ILZach Eflin (SP) — Eflin underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.05/08

Texas Rangers

(10)

• 10-Day-ILJosh Jung (3B) — Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Wednesday that Jung (calf) has been making slow progress in his recovery and will remain out for at least 10 more days, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.08/05
• 10-Day-ILKyle Higashioka (C) — Higashioka is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox.07/21
• 15-Day-ILJack Leiter (SP) — Leiter (ankle) threw two innings and 33 pitches of live batting practice Saturday, MLB.com reports.08/09
• 15-Day-ILJakob Junis (RP) — Junis (adductor) threw out to 90 feet Friday and expects to toss a bullpen session Monday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.08/08
• 60-Day-ILDanny Jansen (C) — Jansen (forearm) threw to bases for a second time Saturday, MLB.com reports.08/09
• 60-Day-ILJose Corniell (RP) — The Rangers placed Corniell on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with an elbow injury, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.07/30
• 60-Day-ILJalen Beeks (RP) — The Rangers transferred Beeks (forearm) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday.07/21
• 60-Day-ILMichael Helman (CF) — Texas transferred Helman (hand) to the 60-day injured list Friday.06/19
• 60-Day-ILRobert Garcia (RP) — The Rangers transferred Garcia (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.06/01
• 60-Day-ILCarter Baumler (RP) — Baumler (intercostal) has been shut down from his rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.05/23

For Baltimore, it's about not getting overwhelmed while figuring out what's left after the sell-off. For Texas, it's a chance to finish off the series and keep building on the best form the roster's shown all year.