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(Sports Network) - Texas' high-powered offense has gone through a blackout as of late, a situation the Rangers will try to rectify in the finale of a three- game series with the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at Camden Yards.

Texas leads the majors with 652 runs scored and is tied for the league lead in average with a .279 clip, but has managed to score just four runs in its past four games. After plating 17 runs in taking the first two games of a four-game set with the Yankees earlier in the week, the Rangers managed just three in the final two games of that series, getting shutout in Thursday's finale.

That slump has carried over into this series. Texas managed to score just once in Friday's opening loss and was blanked again on Saturday, 9-0. Marlon Byrd went 2-for-3 in the only multi-hit effort for Texas, which has dropped four straight and is now 7 1/2 games back of Boston for the AL wild card spot.

Part of Texas' slump can be blamed on the absence of Milton Bradley, who hasn't started since injuring his left quad on July 29. He has pinch-hit once since then and leads Texas with a .320 average to go along with 19 homers and 60 RBI.

Fellow All-Star Michael Young left yesterday's game in the fourth inning after aggravating an injury on his right ring finger, but is expected to play today.

Both Texas and Baltimore will be sending out inexperienced hurlers to the hill today.

For the Rangers, Matt Harrison makes his seventh career start. The young lefty faced New York on Tuesday and held the Yankees to a pair of runs on five hits over 6 1/3 innings, his longest outing since going seven frames in his big league debut on July 8, a win over the Angels.

The 22-year-old is 3-2 with a 6.46 earned run average and faces the Orioles for the first time.

Baltimore, meanwhile, sends Chris Waters to the mound for only the second time in his career. The 27-year-old southpaw made his major league debut on Tuesday and it was a good one. Waters held the AL West-leading Angels to a hit and three walks over eight shutout innings for the win.

An offensive backing like the one the O's put together yesterday would be a big help for Waters. Melvin Mora homered and drove in four runs, while Nick Markakis added a three-run blast for Baltimore, which won for the third time in four games.

Brian Roberts was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, an RBI and two walks, while Juan Castro finished 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored before leaving with a groin injury in the seventh inning.

Aubrey Huff, meanwhile, ran his hitting streak to 17 games to match his career high. Huff has nine multi-hit efforts during the streak, going 28-for-67 (.418) with three homers, 11 runs scored and 12 RBI.

These two clubs have now split eight games so far this year. The Orioles will try to sweep Texas at home for the first time since June 13-15, 2000.