Series preview: Indians at Rangers (June 6-June 9)

After a much needed day off, the Tribe embark on a three city road trip with a four game set in Aggtown, and the Texas Rangers.

• Friday's game is at 8:05 PM (Bauer vs. Darvish)
• Saturday's game is at 4:05 PM (Tomlin vs. Tepesch)
• Sunday's game is at 3:05 PM (Masterson vs. Saunders)
• Monday's game is at 8:05 PM (House vs. Martinez)

The Indians then play two in Kansas City before wrapping up the trip with another four game set in Boston.

Division Watch: Red Sox at Tigers, White Sox at Angels, Astros at Twins, Yankees at Royals.

Team in a Box

How the Rangers are sitting as a .500 club is a bit mystifying due to the massive injury bug that has plagued them this season. Before any discussion begins, please scroll down to the injury list below. They could almost field an entire starting nine and three starters for a series. Manager Ron Washington is doing a great job keeping this club afloat. But you have to wonder at what point the band aids will finally give out.

The offense is still potent as they score runs at a big clip, but the loss of Fielder and the offseason loss of Nelson Cruz has sapped them of the longball threat. They currently reside at fourteenth in home runs. The pitching, outside of Yu Darvish and a few arms in the pen has been atrocious. But when three fifths of the rotation is replaced due to injury, that is bound to happen. Defensively, they are not as poor as the Indians, but they are thirteenth in errors and fielding percentage.

Projected Roster

With all of the injuries (Fielder, Soto, Profar), there has been some juggling. Moreland is more of a DH, but is now at first and not hitting like he has in the past. Odor is just 20 and in AA before getting called up after Profar got hurt. Andrus is not living up to his megadeal, at least offensively. But the lineup still has a strong core with Beltre, LGFT Choo and Rios, and to a lesser extent, Gimenez. He has hit well in limited playing time, and I suspect he'll get more chance over Chirinos going forward.

Projected Staff

We miss their worst starter in Lewis, and open with Cy Young caliber Darvish. Darvish hasn't allowed more than 2 runs in over a month and is averaging just under 8 innings per start in that span. He took the loss in both of his career starts against the Tribe, but pitched well in both. Tepesch was hit hard by the Nationals in his last start and has only been in the rotation since mid-May. The Indians hit him hard last year. Saunders was recalled when Perez hit the DL. His FIP is 4.64 and has allowed a lot of baserunners. The Indians hit him hard in both games while he was a Mariner last year. Martinez started the year in pen and the Orioles and Twins both scored 4 earned runs against him in his last two starts. He made his debut this year.

The pen features a shutdown closer in Soria and Frasor has been excellent this year. Both lefties in the pen, Cotts and Ross look hittable, with Ross relegated to the pen after a rough stretch in the rotation earlier this season. Scheppers was just activated after a rehab assignment.

On the Shelf

• SP Matt Harrison [15 day DL], out for season
• SP Derek Holland [60 day DL], out for season
• SP Martin Perez [60 day DL], out for season
• 1B Prince Fielder [15 day DL], out for season
• 2B Jurickson Profar [60 day DL], out for season
• C Geovany Soto [60 day DL], possibly mid-July
• RP Alexi Ogando [15 day DL], no timetable
• 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff [15 day DL], possibly mid-July
• LF James Adduci [15 day DL], on AA rehab
• RF Engel Beltre [60 day DL], possibly mid-July
• RP Pedro Figueroa [60 day DL], out for season
• RP Joseph Ortiz [60 day DL], possibly mid-July

Almanac

*Does not include 2014 stats