The Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles start a key four-game series in Maryland on Thursday, meeting for the first time since last October, when the Rangers swept all three games to continue their World Series run. The upstart Orioles won 101 games and the AL East, but nary a playoff game as Texas outscored them 21-11. Orioles pitchers posted a 7.27 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP over 26 innings, as two of their starting pitchers did not last even two innings.

    Starting pitching takes center stage again this weekend, with Orioles RHP Corbin Burnes, a legitimate AL Cy Young contender, starting things off, but fantasy managers will surely pay attention to Friday night, with future Hall of Famer RHP scheduled to make his second appearance of the season after missing months recovering from injuries to his back, thumb and forearm. Scherzer tossed 57 pitches in five shutout innings against the Royals this past Sunday. He may be limited again on Friday. Scherzer remains available in more than 35% of ESPN standard leagues.

    At the plate, Rangers rookie OF Wyatt Langford is having a productive June, knocking in runs and stealing bases and, while he is among the most-added hitters in ESPN standard leagues, he remains rostered in fewer than 50% of them. Even more available is Rangers 3B Josh Jung, nearly recovered from wrist surgery necessitated when an errant pitch caused a fracture during the first week of the season. Jung hit 23 home runs in 2023, so a preemptive add may be worth it, even in shallow leagues. Jung may play this weekend.

    On the Orioles side, their lineup has been set for much of the season, with six regulars rostered in at least 50% of leagues. 1B/OF Ryan O'Hearn should be in lineups versus right-handed pitching. The Rangers plan to throw right-handers in the first three games of the series, then LHP Andrew Heaney in the Sunday night game on ESPN. As for top Orioles hitting prospects such as SS/2B Jackson Holliday, DH Heston Kjerstad and 3B/1B Coby Mayo, there has not been much opportunity.

    Weekend pitchers to watch

      Weekend hitters to watch