The Rangers close out their first road trip of the season with a three-game set against the Oakland A’s, beginning Monday night. They’re licking their wounds after being swept by the Seattle Mariners in demoralizing fashion Sunday afternoon. It’s the second time they’ve been swept in their first four series. They were only swept twice all of 2016, the second of which didn’t come until July 18 in Anaheim. The first was a three-game set against the White Sox in Chicago in April.
Right-hander A.J. Griffin (1-0, 6.74 ERA) starts the opener for the Rangers. Against the A’s in his first start on April 9, Griffin left in the fourth inning after scraping his throwing hand and knees diving for a wild throw home, having allowed a four runs over 3 1/3.