(Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)

After taking two of three contests from the Pittsburgh Pirates to open a nine-game homestand, the Texas Rangers will welcome the Athletics to Arlington for the opener of a three-game series on Friday night.

The Rangers are feeling good about their offseason trade that landed them a reliable leadoff hitter, outfielder Brandon Nimmo, from the New York Mets.

With a two-hit game in Texas' 6-1 series-clinching win over the Pirates on Thursday night, Nimmo raised his batting average to .304 for the season. He's recorded seven doubles, four home runs and 11 RBIs in his first 25 games with the Rangers.

After spending the first 10 years of his career with the Mets, Nimmo came to Texas in a November transaction that sent second baseman Marcus Semien to New York.

Nimmo, 33, got an early chance to celebrate a career achievement with his new team, as he recorded his 1,000th career hit in the Rangers' 7-3 loss in Seattle last Saturday.

Texas manager Skip Schumaker has praised Nimmo for his attitude and the dimension he's added to the lineup.

'All he cares about is winning. We're just so fortunate to have him,' Schumaker said.

Nathan Eovaldi (2-3, 5.06 ERA) will be Texas' starting pitcher for Friday's opener. Eovaldi, who is in the second season of a three-year, $75 million deal, last pitched on the day Nimmo reached his hitting milestone. He took the loss Saturday after giving up four runs (two earned) on eight hits in five innings vs. the Mariners.

Eovaldi, 36, is 4-2 with a 2.54 ERA in 15 career appearances (all starts) against the A's.

The Athletics come to Arlington following an off day and with renewed spirit after winning a series at Seattle to begin the week. They defeated the Mariners 6-4 on Monday and 5-2 on Tuesday before dropping a 5-4 decision in the series finale on Wednesday.

The Athletics needed the break that their travel day on Thursday provided, as they just wrapped a stretch of 16 games in 16 days dating to April 7. Manager Mark Kotsay said he was happy to see his team rewarded after gutting through its uninterrupted run of games.

'This club came in here focused, prepared -- to see them win a series at the end of it, it's a good feeling,' Kotsay said.

Luis Severino (0-2, 6.20 ERA) will start start for the A's on Friday. The right-hander is 2-3 with a 3.97 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against the Rangers.

Severino has struggled for control, walking 20 hitters in 24 2/3 innings this season.

This will be the second meeting between the Athletics and Rangers this season. The teams split a four-game set hosted by the A's from April 13-16. Texas won the head-to-head series last season, 8-5.

--Field Level Media