Surging Athletics, Rangers set for AL West clash

The Texas Rangers are looking to follow up their highest scoring output in 14 years, while the Athletics are aiming to build on a three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers.

Yet the timing of Thursday's off-day wasn't good for either team.

The Athletics have won 21 of 31 games and don't want a break, while Texas star shortstop Corey Seager underwent an appendectomy one day before the American League West rivals open a three-game series on Friday night in West Sacramento, Calif.

Seager hit a two-run homer in Wednesday's 20-3 annihilation of the visiting Los Angeles Angels, but left after the fourth inning due to abdominal pain.

"Corey, he's extremely impactful for our team, and at this point in the season, with everything we've experienced thus far, that's a tough blow," Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young told reporters Thursday. "I will express that Corey did not want to rule out the season."

Adolis Garcia, Joc Pederson and Kyle Higashioka all hit three-run homers and drove in five runs apiece to fuel the franchise's top scoring effort since a 20-6 beatdown of the Minnesota Twins on July 25, 2011. The Rangers had 22 hits while completing a 5-1 homestand.

"That can do a lot for a team," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said of the rampage. "We've had gut punches through tough losses and injuries, but you can't stop enjoying the game, playing the game, having fun with it. You take the intensity out to the field, but you enjoy it. Play with passion, that's what it is about."

Texas is 4 1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the AL's third and final wild-card spot. The Kansas City Royals are three games out.

Meanwhile, the A's are loaded with confidence after outscoring the American League Central-leading Tigers 22-9 over their sweep. The young team notched a comeback victory over reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal on Monday to set the tone.

"Great series," Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said after Wednesday's 7-0 win. "Of course, we're running into an off-day when we don't want one because we're playing really good baseball. For us as a club, we continue to improve and that's the right direction we want to be going in to finish the season."

The Athletics are displaying potential and nobody has had a bigger influence than rookie Nick Kurtz, the No. 4 overall pick in last year's draft. The 22-year-old is batting .309 with 27 homers and 70 RBIs in 93 games.

"Kurtz at the beginning of this year was just unbelievable," A's infielder Brett Harris said. "Guys on the other team were like, ‘Who is this guy?' I'm like, ‘it's Babe Ruth.'"

Left-hander Jeffrey Springs (10-8, 4.15 ERA) will start for the Athletics in the opener against Texas right-hander Jack Leiter (8-7, 3.81).

Springs is 0-1 over his last four starts. He received a no-decision against the Seattle Mariners last Saturday when he gave up one run and two hits over 5 1/3 innings.

He beat the Rangers on May 1 when he allowed two hits over six scoreless innings. He is 2-0 with a 1.89 ERA in six career appearances (three starts) against Texas.

The now-sidelined Seager and Josh Jung are each 2-for-6 with a homer off Springs.

Leiter was dominant with seven scoreless innings during a 10-0 rout of the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. He struck out a career-high 10 and gave up two hits.

Leiter, 25, defeated the A's on July 21 when he gave up two runs and four hits over six innings. He is 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against the Athletics.

Kurtz (2-for-2), Tyler Soderstrom (3-for-6) and Shea Langeliers (2-for-5) have each homered off Leiter.