NEW YORK YANKEES (8-11)

at TEXAS RANGERS (11-10)

First pitch: Wednesday, 8:00 p.m. ET
Line: New York +120, Texas -130, Total: 9.5

The Yankees and the Rangers meet in the rubber game of the three-game series at Globe Life Park in Arlington.

The Yankees (8-11) won the series opener, 3-1, on Monday night, but the Rangers (11-10) evened the series on Tuesday with a 10-1 thrashing. You can expect a lot of runs in the rubber game of the series, as Yankees LHP CC Sabathia (1-1, 5.28 ERA, 10 SO, 8 BB in 15 1/3 innings) will take on Rangers LHP Martin Perez (0-2, 4.50 ERA, 11 SO, 13 BB in 24 IP) in a battle of lefty hurlers. Neither starter has looked sharp to start the season. In Texas’ victory on Tuesday, LF Ian Desmond (.211, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .309 OBP) hit a 433-foot solo shot and 2B Rougned Odor (.234, 3 HR, 14 RBI, .272 OBP) added a 416-foot blast in the ninth inning. RF Nomar Mazara (.365, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .426 OBP) and 1B Mitch Moreland (.239, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .301 OBP) each chipped in with a pair of hits, and SS Elvis Andrus (.343, 0 HR, 12 RBI, .370 OBP) went 3-for-4 to up his average to .343. Texas has the second-most runs in the American League (92) and the Bronx Bombers are tied with Tampa Bay for the least (70). If the game is tight in the later innings, though, the Yanks have the advantage. New York’s bullpen (3.30 ERA) has been much more reliable than Texas’ (5.04 ERA). The Rangers have played very well at home (7-4) this season.

Where is the Yankees’ offense? Joe Girardi’s club is 11th in the AL in average (.238) and second-to-last (.191) with men in scoring position. It also has the second-fewest hits (152) in the AL and is dead last in doubles (20). No Yankees starter is batting .300, with 2B Starlin Castro (.278, 3 HR, 11 RBI, .325 OBP) and LF Brett Gardner (.271, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .403 OBP) leading the way. RF Carlos Beltran (.264, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .289 OBP) leads the club in homers with just four. 1B Mark Teixeira (.254, 3 HR, 10 RBI, .375 OBP), CF Jacoby Ellsbury (.253, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .282 OBP), 3B Chase Headley (.157, 0 HR, 2 RBI, .290 OBP) and DH Alex Rodriguez (.145, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .242 OBP) have really been struggling. The only Yankee with more than four career at-bats against Perez is backup 2B Dustin Ackley (.067, 0 HR in 15 AB). He’s 3-for-10 lifetime with a homer against the 25-year-old. For his career, Sabathia is 12-4 against the Rangers with a 5.10 ERA.

Mazara just continues to rake in his rookie campaign. Andrus has been terrific as well, and veteran Adrian Beltre (.300, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .345 OBP, 7 2B) just continues to produce at age 37. DH Prince Fielder (.192, 2 HR, 15 RBI, .258 OBP) had an RBI single on Tuesday night, but the six-time All-Star is still looking to find his rhythm at the plate. Jeff Banister’s club is hitting .245 against left-handed starters, and it’s seen its fair share of Sabathia, who’s been in the majors since 2001. Andrus (10-for-22 with 4 RBI) has loved facing the former Cy Young Award winner, though Fielder (5-for-19 with 1 HR and 4 RBI) and Beltre (8-for-34 with 1 HR, 3 2B and 5 RBI) haven’t had a ton of success against him. In Perez’s lone career start against the Yankees (on July 28, 2015), he surrendered eight earned runs in just an inning of work.