Spring Training Game 7: Indians (5-2) vs. Rangers (0-5-1)

Zach McAllister (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

vs.

Derek Holland (0-0, 3.00 ERA)

Spring Training Game 7: Indians (5-2) at Rangers (0-5-1), 2:05 pm CT

Texas will host Cleveland on Thursday, with the Indians on a two game losing streak and the Rangers still searching for their first win of Spring Training.  Cleveland started the spring red hot, opening up 5-0 before falling to Kansas City and Seattle the last two days.

Cleveland is led by new manager Terry Francona, who will attempt to turn things around in Northeast Ohio in 2013.  The Tribe did quite a bit this off-season in terms of improving the talent level, signing free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, as well as veterans Jason Giambi and Ryan Raburn.  Daisuke Matsuzaka will get a second chance to get his career back on track, as Francona brought him in as well.  The Indians also traded to get one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, Trevor Bauer.  Bauer's talent has never been in question, however questions about his maturity and decision making have been raised over the last year.

Cleveland will send out Zach McAllister to start the game on Thursday.  McAllister is a 25 year old with 26 career major league starts under his belt, all of them with Cleveland.  McAllister started 22 games last season, posting a 6-8 record and a 4.24 ERA.  In 125.1 innings, he was able to strike out 110 hitters, while allowing just 38 walks.  Texas' power hitters should be salivating, as McAllister gave up 19 homers last season.  I usually only talk about the starters, but Daisuke Matsuzaka and Trevor Bauer, two very interesting pitchers, will also take the hill for the Indians during the game today.

Six days after a rough start against Kansas City, Derek Holland will make his second spring start for Texas.  Holland threw three innings against the Royals last Friday, allowing six hits and one run while striking only one.  Holland will be leaving camp for a little while after this start, heading off to take part in the World Baseball Classic.  There is no doubt Holland will have a spot in the Rangers rotation when the season opens, but Rangers fans, and probably the coaching staff, would feel more at ease with a more focused Holland on the mound.  It will be interesting to see how Holland looks not only today, but this weekend during the World Baseball Classic.

Other Spring Training Action Today:

Grapefruit League:

Atlanta (3-3) at Philadelphia (1-3) - 12:05 pm CT

Baltimore (5-0) at Minnesota (3-2) - 12:05 pm CT

Boston (2-4) at Pittsburgh (2-2) - 12:05 pm CT
Detroit (2-3) at Tampa Bay (5-1) - 12:05 pm CT

Miami (3-1) at St. Louis (3-2) - 12:05 pm CT
N.Y. Yankees (SS) at Houston (3-2) - 12:05 pm CT

Toronto (2-4) at N.Y. Yankees (SS) - 12:05 pm CT

N.Y. Mets (1-3) at Washington (1-3) - 5:05 pm CT

Notes: Stephen Strasburg and Shaun Marcum will face off for the second time this spring on Thursday.  Strasburg pitched two innings against the Mets last Saturday, giving up three hits and two runs.  Marcum also pitched two innings in that game, allowing four hits and three runs.  Anibal Sanchez will start for Detroit on Thursday, making his second start.  Sanchez pitched two scoreless innings against Toronto last Saturday.  Sanchez will be opposed by talented Rays left-hander Matt Moore.  Moore will be making his first spring start of 2013, after going 11-11 with a 3.81 ERA in 2012.  John Lackey will start his second game for the Red Sox when Boston takes on Pittsburgh today.  Lackey has improved his physical conditioning this season in hopes of rebounding from a couple of mediocre seasons in Boston after signing a big free agent deal.  Lackey is just 26-23 with the Red Sox.  Finally, watch out for Cole Hamels on Thursday as he makes his second spring start.  Hamels pitched two perfect innings in his first start.  Hamels will be facing the best offensive lineup in the National League East arguably, as the Upton brothers have added to the wealth of talent in Atlanta.

Cactus League:

L.A. Angels (0-4) at L.A. Dodgers (2-1) - 2:05 pm CT
Arizona (2-3) at Cincinnati (SS) - 2:05 pm CT
Chicago White Sox (3-0) at Milwaukee (1-5) - 2:05 pm CT

Kansas City (5-0) at San Diego (3-4) - 2:05 pm CT
Oakland (2-3) at Chicago Cubs (3-2) - 2:05 pm CT
Seattle (5-1) at San Francisco (1-1) - 2:05 pm CT
Cincinnati (SS) at Colorado (3-2) - 2:10 pm CT

Notes: Thursday features a couple of big names taking the mound for their teams.  Clayton Kershaw will make his second spring start today against the Angels, who are looking for their first win.  Kershaw was touched up for four hits and two runs against the White Sox last Saturday in two innings.  Kansas City will send out their new ace, James Shields when they take on the Padres.  Shields will be making his Spring Training debut, and looks to give Royals fans something to smile about.  Shields has won 31 games the last two seasons while with Tampa Bay.  He has a career ERA of 3.89 in 217 career starts.  San Francisco will get their second look at Matt Cain on Thursday against Seattle.  Cain pitched last Sunday against the Cubs, giving up four hits and four runs in an 11 pitch, one inning start.  Another starting pitcher that people will be following on Thursday is Cincinnati's Aroldis Chapman.  The Reds are trying to convert Chapman into the starting rotation, and all eyes will be on him today.  He will be making his spring debut after pitching in 68 games in 2012.  Scott Feldman will make his first start for anyone other than the Texas Rangers today, as he will start for the Cubs against Oakland.