Spring Training Game 9: Rangers (1-6-1) vs. Diamondbacks (3-3)

Matt Harrison (0-0, 36.00 ERA)

vs.

Wade Miley (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Spring Training Game 9: Rangers (1-6-1) at Diamondbacks (3-3), 2:10 pm CT

The Rangers were unable to string together two consecutive wins on Friday, so they will have to look to earn their second Spring Training win on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Arizona has undergone many changes to their team this off-season, including the loss of their best player, Justin Upton, in a trade to the Atlanta Braves.

Gerardo Parra has been hot for the Diamondbacks this spring, leading them with six RBI so far in 15 at-bats.  Parra has also hit one long ball and is hitting .333 so far in Cactus League action.  A pair of veterans, Willie Bloomquist (.538) and Rod Barajas (.600) have both gotten off two hots starts as well.  New addition Martin Prado and top prospect Adam Eaton are playing well for Arizona in their first seven games.

Texas will send out Matt Harrison to start on Saturday.  Harrison started on February 24 against Kansas City, pitching one inning and allowing four runs on six hits.  Harrison will look to last a little longer in terms of innings and limit the number of hits allowed compared to his last start.  In fairness, the Royals have hit the ball as well as anyone during the first week of Cactus League play.

The Diamondbacks will counter with second year left-handed starter Wade Miley.  Miley started 29 games in 2012 for Arizona, finishing with a 16-11 record and recording 144 strikeouts in 194.2 innings pitched.  Miley finished with a 3.33 ERA, but did give up 14 homers on the season.

Other Spring Training Action Today:

Grapefruit League:

Atlanta (3-4) at Houston (4-2), 12:05 pm CT
Baltimore (5-1) at Tampa Bay (5-2), 12:05 pm CT

Boston (3-4) at Minnesota (4-2), 12:05 pm CT
Detroit (SS) at N.Y. Yankees (1-6), 12:05 pm CT

Philadelphia (2-3) at Toronto (3-4), 12:05 pm CT

Pittsburgh (2-3) at Detroit (SS), 12:05 pm CT
Washington (1-3) at St. Louis (4-2), 12:05 pm CT

Miami (3-2) at N.Y. Mets (1-3), 12:10 pm CT

Notes: Saturday features top notch starting pitchers on the mound, and a couple of great pitching match-ups.  Gio Gonzalez (Washington) and Adam Wainwright (St. Louis) will take the mound opposite of each other, as will Cliff Lee (Philadelphia) and R.A. Dickey (Toronto).  Also getting starts on Saturday will be Atlanta's Kris Medlen, Boston's Clay Buchholz and the New York Mets' Matt Harvey.

Cactus League:

Chicago Cubs (4-2) at San Francisco (SS), 2:05 pm CT
Cincinnati (2-6) at Chicago White Sox (3-1), 2:05 pm CT
Colorado (4-2) at Oakland (2-4), 2:05 pm CT
L.A. Angels (0-5) at Milwaukee (2-5), 2:05 pm CT
L.A. Dodgers (3-1) at Seattle (6-1), 2:05 pm CT

San Diego (3-5) at Cleveland (5-3), 2:05 pm CT

San Francisco (SS) at Kansas City (6-0), 2:05 pm CT

Notes:  Angels fans will get to see C.J. Wilson take the mound for the first time in 2013 on Saturday as he will start against the Brewers, who will counter with Hiram Burgos.  The other team in Los Angeles, the Dodgers, will send Chris Capuano out to start against Seattle.  Capuano is fighting with about four or five other guys to win a spot in a deep Dodgers rotation.  Tim Lincecum will take hill against the Cubs on Saturday, looking to improve upon his performance against the Dodgers on Tuesday, when he gave up three runs on four hits in 1.1 innings.  Edinson Volquez will make his second start of the spring for San Diego opposite Ubaldo Jimenez of Cleveland, and Boof Bonser and a split squad Giants team will be the next to try and knock Kansas City from the ranks of the undefeated this spring.