The Texas Rangers (33-25) and San Francisco Giants (33-25) will open up a three-game interleague series on Friday night at AT&T Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 10:15 ET

Texas Rangers at San Francisco Giants 

Texas remains in the Bay Area after dropping three of four games against the lowly Oakland Athletics, including a 7-1 setback on Thursday afternoon.  The Rangers have now lost seven of nine, and are 18-21 since April 26.  “It’s obvious we’re not swinging the bats the way we’re capable,” commented Rangers manager Ron Washington.  Don’t expect a huge turnaround in this series, with the franchise being 0-9 all-time at this ball park.  Texas is 10-8 against left-handed starters this season.

Rangers starting pitcher Matt Harrison (7-3, 4.37 ERA) has won his last three outings, including a 7-3 road win over the Los Angeles Angels in his last effort, giving up three runs and four hits over 6.2 innings.  The left-hander has tallied a winning 5-1 record and 4.31 ERA on the road this year, with opposing hitters batting .257 against him.  Harrison will be making his first career appearance against the Giants, going 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA in four interleague starts in 2011.

San Francisco is playing its best baseball of the season in winning nine of 11 games, as it returns home after winning two of three against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.  The Giants managed to collect 10 or more hits in each contest of that series.  “Any team can get hot at any time,” stated Giants pitcher Matt Cain.  Angel Pagan is the main player to watch offensively, hitting safely in 45 of his last 47 games.  San Francisco is 13-5 against southpaw starters, with the “under” going 11-5 in that situation.

Giants starting pitcher Barry Zito (5-2, 2.98 ERA) has won four of his last five starts, including a 2-0 home win over the Chicago Cubs in his last outing, scattering four hits over 8.1 shutout innings.  The left-hander has registered a perfect 3-0 record and 2.59 ERA in five home outings, holding opposing hitters to a .211 average.  In 31 career games versus the Rangers, Zito has gone 18-5 with a 3.72 ERA, but didn’t get a chance to face them in the 2010 World Series due to not being on the active roster.

Bettors will likely back the Rangers due to their 8-0 mark in Harrison’s last eight starts as a road favorite, while the Giants are 3-8 in Zito’s last 11 outings versus winning teams.

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