NEWS » Veteran right-hander Edwin Jackson hopes to stall

OAKLAND Tony Conigliaro Jersey , Calif. — his career-long struggles against the Texas Rangers when he attempts to deliver the Oakland Athletics a second consecutive win in the three-game series Saturday afternoon.The A’s (85-57) will take the field 3 1/2 games behind first-place Houston (88-53) in the race for the American League West crown, and 3 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees (88-53) in the duel for the first wild-card spot in the AL.The Astros will be at Boston with the same starting time as the A’s, while the Yankees aren’t scheduled to start until several hours later in a night game at Seattle.Article continues below ...Jackson (5-3, 2.91 ERA) will be facing the Rangers for the third time this season while still looking for his first effective outing against them.He gave up a three-run home run to Robinson Chirinos in a 6-5 win over the Rangers in Texas in July. Jackson did not get the win, having been pulled after allowing five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings.Jackson’s stats were nearly identical (4 1/3 innings, four runs, seven hits) in a 4-2 home loss to the Rangers last month in which he was bombed for homers by Shin-Soo Choo and Joey Gallo. He took the loss in that outing.The 34-year-old has logged a 0-1 record and 9.35 ERA in his two starts against the Rangers this season http://www.redsoxproshops.com/authentic-dustin-pedroia-jersey , as opposed to 5-2 with a 2.06 against all other teams in 11 starts.Jackson is just 2-4 with a 4.85 ERA in nine starts against the Rangers in his career.Gallo has faced Jackson just four times and gotten on base all four via two walks, a single and a home run.The slugger ended a nine-game homerless drought with his 35th of the season in Friday’s 8-4 loss to the A’s in the series opener. He now stands five behind Oakland’s Khris Davis, the AL leader with 40.Adrian Beltre (.409), Choo (.364) and Elvis Andrus (.353) also have padded their batting averages at Jackson’s expense.Davis, meanwhile, has a walk, a single and a home run to show for three career plate appearances against left-hander Yohander Mendez (1-1 Steve Pearce Jersey , 5.59), the Rangers’ scheduled starter Saturday.Mendez faced the A’s three times in relief the past two seasons, going 0-0 with a 3.86 ERA. He has not faced the A’s this season and has transitioned into a starter of late. Mendez is coming off the best outing of his career last Sunday, when he shut out the Minnesota Twins on three hits over six innings for his first major-league win.The A’s did a majority of the power hitting in Friday’s win, with Ramon Laureano belting a pair of homers, including one on Yovani Gallardo’s fourth pitch of the game.Oakland’s new leadoff man, who was an August call-up from the minors J. D. Martinez Jersey , has made the most of a recent promotion to the top of the order, going 4-for-10 in three games with two doubles and two home runs. Major League Baseball has submitted a written request to theNevada Gaming Control Board to ask that Nevada sportsbooks not accept bets on spring training games, according to ESPN.com's David Purdum.Purdum notes the Nevada Gaming Control is expected to decline the request.There are no details as to what MLB included in the request. Purdum pointed out that spring training games do not typically feature high-volume bets, as the exhibition contests can be tough to handicap. Spring training lineups consist of a mix of starters, reserves and minor leaguers, with starters typically seeing limited action.As a result, bettors would be risking their money on a greater unknown.In May Paul Goldschmidt Jersey , the United States Supreme Courtvoted6-3 to overturn the ban on sports gambling. Prior to that ruling, Nevada was the only state with legalized sports gambling.Not only have states like New Jersey subsequently legalized gambling, but professional sports leagues around the country have taken advantage of the ruling by establishing new partnerships. Major League Baseball teamed upwithMGM Resorts International in November for the league's first-ever gambling affiliation."There's been a huge change in public opinion and the legal framework surrounding sports gamint has created an opportunity for all sports and baseball in particular," MLB Commissioner Rob Manfredsaidin November. "We have to take advantage of every opportunity to drive engagement with our fans."