First pitch: Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: Texas -170, Philadelphia +160, Total: 9.5

The Phillies and Rangers wrap up their first series of the 2014 season when they play the rubber match of their three-game set on Wednesday night.

Philadelphia's big acquisitions in the offseason were surprising as the team added even more age to its veteran club with OF Marlon Byrd (36 years old) and RHP A.J. Burnett (37 years old). Of the eight offensive players that started on Opening Day for the Phils, five were over the age of 34, but this group has shown that they still have signs of life with 16 runs on 25 hits in the first two games. Texas made news in its offseason when it dealt Ian Kinsler for big-bopper 1B Prince Fielder, while also adding free agent OF Shin-Soo Choo in an attempt to bolster its offense. With 13 runs and 24 hits over the first two games, scoring runs won't be a problem for the Rangers. But injuries to three of their starting pitchers (Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland) have given them limited pitching depth, and players like Joe Saunders and Robbie Ross will need to fill the void for the time being. The visiting Phillies will be sending veteran RHP Kyle Kendrick (10-13, 4.70 ERA in 2013) to the mound while Texas will send the aforementioned youngster, LHP Robbie Ross (4-2, 3.03 ERA as a reliever in 2013), to the bump, as he tries to win the series for his team. Before this three-game set, these two clubs had not faced each other since 2011, when the Phillies won 2-of-3 games at home. On the road last season, Philadelphia really struggled with a 30-51 record (.370), while the Rangers had a strong 46-36 home record (.561).

Kyle Kendrick has been a solid innings-eater for the Phillies for years now and topped 180 frames for the second time in his career last season. He added a curveball to his repertoire during Spring Training, and it seemed to improve his game as he went 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA (1.25 WHIP) and 13 strikeouts in 16 innings. Kendrick has yet to face the Rangers, but has gone toe-to-toe with some of the players on the roster and a few of them have taken him to the woodshed. In their careers, 1B Prince Fielder (3-for-5, 1 HR, 5 RBI), OF Shin-Soo Choo (2-for-8, 2 HR, 4 RBI) and 3B Adrian Beltre (2-for-4, 2 doubles) have all had success in the matchup. The Phillies bullpen really had its struggles in 2013, having the fourth-worst ERA (4.19) while going 25-26 and converting only 32-of-48 save opportunities (67%). This season has been no different, as the relievers have already allowed four runs on six hits and six walks in 6.1 innings (5.69 ERA, 1.90 WHIP). Closer Jonathan Papelbon (5-1, 2.92 ERA in 2013) has been one of the best ninth-inning pitchers for nearly a decade and has 286 saves in 326 chances (88%) in his career, but saved fewer than 30 games (29) last year for the first time since 2005.

Robbie Ross has spent the last two seasons with the Rangers as a relief pitcher, throwing in 123 games (127.1 IP) over that time. He was effective in that role with a 2.62 ERA and 25 holds, but injuries to several arms in the Texas rotation forced Ross back to his original role he had when he first joined the organization. Ross last started when he made six starts for the Texas Double-A affiliate in 2011, going 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA and 8.4 K/9. He also started three times this spring, pitching seven scoreless innings while striking out eight batters in his last appearance. Philadelphia’s offense has been hot so far against Texas’ shallow rotation while having 17 hits over the first two games of the series and should be fresh in the beginning of the season while having plenty of aging players. The Rangers actually boasted one of the best relief corps in the league last season, pitching to a 35-18 record and 2.91 ERA (4th in league) while converting 46-of-57 saves (81%). RHP Joakim Soria (1-0, 3.80 ERA in 2013) has not pitched more than 25 innings since 2011, but is an experienced closer with 160 saves in 180 opportunities (89%) between 2007 and 2011 with the Royals, and earned the win for Texas on Tuesday night. However, the 'pen has been shaky in the two games with a 7.56 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 8.1 innings.