MLB LATE SHOW
Play: Texas Rangers
Rating: 8*

The Oakland Athletics managed to hold the surging Texas Rangers at bay last night as they opened this three-game series with a 14-5 win. I like the Rangers to bounce back with a big performance here in Game 2.

Martin Perez (5-4, 3.22 ERA) will take the ball for Texas. He's won four consecutive starts while allowing just a total of seven runs through 24 innings of work. His numbers against the A's are not particularly good, but I think he'll be able to do enough and also receive plenty of run support from his fellow Rangers.

The A's turn to Eric Surkamp (0-3, 6.41 ERA). The left-hander has struggled to log innings all year and has made it through the fourth inning just once. He has a sky-high 1.95 WHIP and will face a Texas team that has a .288 batting average against southpaws this season, the best mark in the majors.

Rangers are 4-0 in their last four games vs. a left-handed starter and 12-3 in their last 15 Tuesday games.