Dodgers do the Texas Two-Step with short road trip

The Dodgers open a short two-game set in Texas Tuesday, playing their final interleague series of the regular season. The Dodgers are 10-8 against American League teams this season, including 2-0 against Texas back in June.

It’s funny how a weekend playing the Padres can brighten the outlook a bit. Especially since the Dodgers gained 2.5 games in the standings from prior to Friday night’s game through Monday night. Much like the series against San Diego, the Dodgers have to take care of business against another bottom-ten team in baseball.

The Rangers are 17-18 since the All-Star break despite a league-worst 5.90 ERA. Playing nearly .500 ball for over a month has come from having the most runs scored over most of the last two months. Since the break, Texas has scored 5.77 runs per game, almost one full run more than the Dodgers over that time (4.85) — and that includes a 21-run outburst for Los Angeles.

Scoring six runs in a game should give you a pretty good chance of winning games, but the Rangers have lost five games in the second half when they scored six or more.

The Dodgers have scored 41 runs in eight games in an AL park this season, but those numbers are inflated by the two games when they scored a combined 23 runs in Seattle.

It would seem to be a good matchup for the Dodgers to have a DH when facing a team that has allowed nearly six runs for every nine innings of late.

Tuesday, 5:05 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)

Walker Buehler has been brilliant over his last five starts, holding opponents to four runs in 32.1 innings (1.11 ERA) and a .170 average. Conversely, Texas starter Ariel Jurado has allowed 23 runs in the same amount of innings over six starts to begin his big league career.

Wednesday, 5:05 p.m. PT (SportsNet LA)

Alex Wood was pushed back to Wednesday after originally scheduled to pitch Sunday. The lefty will be looking to get back on track after allowing three runs in four innings against the Cardinals in his last time out. Wood still owns a 2.70 ERA over his last 11 starts.

Mike Minor has been good for the Rangers in 2018, being charged with three or less in 15 of his 23 starts. The lefty is 6-2 with a 3.18 ERA in his last 10 starts going back to June 22, holding hitters to a .196 average.