Rangers at Braves Preview ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Texas Rangers aim to even their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday evening at Truist Park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:20 p.m. under a forecast of 82 degrees and rain. Texas (49-47) dropped the series opener 2-0 on Friday, managing just five hits while striking out 11 times. The Rangers enter having won two of their past three, including a 6-5 victory over Houston on Sunday in which left-hander MacKenzie Gore (5-8, 4.80 ERA) tossed four innings of one-run ball. Gore will start for Texas on Saturday. The 27-year-old has been inconsistent, allowing five or more earned runs in three of his past four outings. He lasted five innings in a 13-1 loss to the Angels on July 8 and yielded five runs in four innings in a 9-4 defeat at Cleveland on July 1. However, Gore pitched seven innings of three-run ball in a win at Toronto on June 25 and held San Diego to one run over six innings on June 20. The probable starter for Atlanta (55-40) was not announced as of Friday evening. Braves manager Brian Snitker could turn to a bullpen game after using four relievers in Friday’s shutout win. One key arm to watch for Atlanta is right-hander JR Ritchie, who has been effective in limited relief work. Ritchie (0-0, 2.63 ERA) threw 4⅓ innings of one-run ball at St. Louis on July 12, earning a win in the Braves’ 4-3 victory. He has allowed two earned runs over his past three appearances spanning 8⅔ innings, striking out seven. Texas shortstop Corey Seager is hitting .287 with 18 home runs and remains the Rangers’ offensive catalyst. Right fielder Brandon Nimmo went 3-for-5 with two RBIs in Sunday’s win over Houston. Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson leads the Braves with 26 homers and 74 RBIs. Second baseman Ozzie Albies is batting .301 with 14 stolen bases. The Rangers are 24-25 on the road this season; the Braves are 30-18 at home. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-4 Texas victory. The Rangers are listed as minus-1.5 favorites, with an over/under of 9.5 runs. Texas concludes its series at Atlanta on Sunday before returning home to host the Chicago White Sox for three games starting Monday. Atlanta hosts San Diego for four games beginning Monday, then travels to Baltimore for three.