Texas @ Cleveland preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2012 ) Texas 5, Cleveland 3

A 10-game road trip heading isn't the idea blueprint to head into September, but the Texas Rangers have the luxury of playing the first three games against a Cleveland Indians squad that appears ready to slide into Lake Erie. Texas won Friday's series opener to maintain a four-game lead over the Oakland Athletics atop the American League West. The Rangers have won 10 of their last 13 games to open a three-game cushion over the New York Yankees for the best record in the AL.

No team in baseball is happier to turn the calendar on August than the Indians, who tied a franchise record for futility with a 5-24 record - the most losses for the team in any month since 1914. Cleveland has dropped 15 of 16 games and enters September on a six-game losing streak. "It's been the toughest month that I've had in baseball," understated Indians manager Manny Acta. While the pitching has been awful, Cleveland's offense has been held to three runs or fewer in 10 of the last 12.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSH (Texas), STO (Cleveland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Scott Feldman (6-10, 4.95 ERA) vs. Indians RH Jeanmar Gomez (4-7, 5.11)

After winning six straight decisions in a span of seven starts, Feldman has gone into a tailspin. He has lost four consecutive starts and his longest outing in that span was six innings. Feldman allowed six runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings to Minnesota last time out. He has pitched to a 6.45 ERA and opposing batters are teeing off to the tune of a .326 batting average against him during the four-game skid.

Gomez will get another chance to make an impression in a rotation that has been dreadful. He will make his first start in over two months, subbing for Roberto Hernandez, who aggravated an ankle injury Friday. Gomez was demoted to the minors in June after losing three straight starts and allowing 13 runs in 15 innings. He was recalled Wednesday and threw a scoreless inning in relief that night.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rangers closer Joe Nathan set a franchise record with his 26th consecutive save - and 28th overall - Friday night.

2. Cleveland's starting pitchers combined for a 6.24 ERA in August - the worst in the majors.

3. Rangers SS Elvis Andrus extending his hitting streak against Cleveland to 27 games but also committed the first two-error game of his career.