San Francisco Giants starter Scott Alexander gets the call for Fri Aug 11, 2023 at Oracle Park in San Francisco to open the series against the Texas Rangers (San Francisco Chronicle file photo)

San Francisco Looking to Turn Skid Around Taking On Rangers

By Barbara Mason

The San Francisco Giants (62-53) had a great start to the month of August taking a four-game series off the Arizona Diamondbacks. They had pulled to a game or two away from the division leading Los Angeles Dodgers. It was all looking very promising until they hit a speed bump at the Coliseum getting swept by the Oakland A’s. San Francisco went on to drop a series to the Angels winning the first game but dropping the next two games and falling six games behind the Dodgers.

Friday night the Giants will take on a very tough Texas Rangers team. The Rangers have a 68-47 record and sit atop the AL West, 2.5 games ahead of the Houston Astros. They just came off a series win against the Oakland A’s.

ESPN Analytics have the Rangers as favorites despite the fact that this game will be played at Oracle Park.

The Giants will send Scott Alexander to the mound with a 6-2 record and a 4.01 ERA. This is the sixth opening assignment for Alexander who signed a minor league deal May 4, 2022 with San Francisco. Alexander opened in game two of the Giants latest series with the Angels.

The Giants fell behind in that game 4-0 in the first inning. Alexander was pulled in the first inning of that game and Jakob Junis came in to relieve. He did not fare much better allowing four hits and one run. The Giants made a valiant comeback bid that fell short losing 7-5.

The Giants will be looking to get back on the winning track in this upcoming series. The Rangers will send Jon Gray to the mound with a 3.72 ERA and a 7-5 W/L record. The Rangers have some solid hitters. Adolis Garcia has hit 29 homers with 89 RBi’s and Jonas Heim has a .280 batting average.

Heim is out on a 10-day IL. at the moment so San Francisco will not have to deal with him. The Giants will be depending on Wilmer Flores who has been exceptional with 15 homers and a .307 batting average. LaMonte Wade Jr. and J.D. Davis will also provide a threat at the plate for the Giants.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 PM.