The Rangers have lined up their best arms for a big home test against Baltimore, and the timing works out just right after a much-needed day off.
Texas finished its trip through San Francisco with two wins in three games, and the club picked up a game on the Houston Astros in the American League West chase. By the time the Orioles arrive Friday, the Rangers will be 1.5 games behind their rivals. Thursday’s off day is their first in nearly two weeks.
The series opens Friday at 7:05 p.m. on Apple TV, with Nathan Eovaldi set to take the ball for Texas against Orioles right-hander Shane Baz. Eovaldi enters at 10-9 with a 4.31 ERA and is looking to steady himself after a rough outing against Houston last Friday, when he allowed 10 hits and six earned runs over five innings. Over his last seven starts, he is 4-2 with a 4.50 ERA, 52 strikeouts and nine walks in 40 innings.
Baz took a loss in his most recent start, though the performance was solid enough: six hits, one earned run, 6.1 innings, four strikeouts and one walk. He has gone 0-3 over his last seven games with a 3.43 ERA, along with 35 strikeouts, 11 walks and 39.1 innings.
Saturday’s matchup, scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on Fox, features Jacob deGrom for Texas against Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish. deGrom is 7-7 with a 3.96 ERA and was coming off a difficult start against Houston last Saturday, when he gave up seven hits and five earned runs in 3.1 innings while walking five and striking out three. He has also been working through a glute injury that he suffered before the All-Star break. Over his last seven appearances, he is 2-3 with a 5.59 ERA, 46 strikeouts and 14 walks in 37 innings.
deGrom also turned down the Rangers’ request to waive his no trade clause as the club worked on deadline moves. He said he wanted to be part of the solution for the Rangers.
Bradish comes in at 7-10 with a 3.79 ERA and lost his last start, allowing two hits and two earned runs in three innings with three strikeouts and two walks. In his last seven games, he is 3-3 with a 3.38 ERA, 32 strikeouts and 13 walks in 40 innings.
The finale on Sunday begins at 1:35 p.m. on Rangers Sports Network, with Kumar Rocker matched up against Orioles left-hander Cade Povich. Rocker is 4-8 with a 4.08 ERA after taking a no-decision against Houston last Sunday, when he allowed 10 hits and three earned runs in 5.1 innings.
He also struck out five and walked two. Across his last seven games, he is 2-2 with a 3.92 ERA, 42 strikeouts and 10 walks in 39 innings.
Povich won his last start, holding the Los Angeles Angels scoreless on seven hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
This will be his sixth game of the season after missing time because of injury. He has 19 strikeouts and 11 walks in 25.1 innings.
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