The Rangers didn’t just survive Monday night in Anaheim - they bought themselves another shot at the top of the AL West.
Texas needed 10 innings to finally grab its first road win over the Angels this season, and that result kept the Rangers right in the thick of the division race as they head into Tuesday’s Game 2 at Angel Stadium. The club enters the night at 60-59, sitting one-half game behind the Astros and 1.5 games ahead of the pack for the final AL wild card spot.
Houston’s game against the Giants briefly had Texas on the edge of first place, but the Astros answered with their own extra-inning rally and held on to win. So the Rangers stay in second, still close enough to feel the pressure and the opportunity.
There’s also a shakeup on the Angels’ side. Interim general manager John Mozeliak fired pitching coach Mike Maddux and his staff on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Maddux, of course, was the Rangers pitching coach during the 2023 World Series run.
On the field, the matchup gives Texas a cleaner look at its left-handed bats. The Angels are sending out right-hander Ryan Johnson, which opens the door for Joc Pederson and Evan Carter to get back into the lineup after two straight games against left-handed pitching. Los Angeles is expected to use right-handers in each of the final three games of the series.
Cody Bradford gets the ball for Texas. The left-hander will make just his second start of the season, and the Rangers are still sorting out Wednesday and Thursday after moving Nathan Eovaldi to the injured list on Monday.
Tuesday’s game is set for 8:38 p.m., with the Rangers on Rangers Sports Network and streaming on BZZR. The Angels will carry the game on ABTV. Radio coverage is available on KRLD 1080 and KFLC 1270 for Texas, and KLAA 830 and Angels ES for Los Angeles.
As for the individual matchups, Carter gets another chance to get rolling against a righty after a rough stretch at the plate. He has never faced Johnson in the majors, and he’s hitless in his last 19 at-bats. If that slide continues, Cameron Cauley could see more time.
Pederson also enters with some recent struggles. He has never faced Johnson either, and while he’s been a key piece as a leadoff hitter against right-handed pitching, his last seven games have produced a .150/.190/.300 line.
Even so, the power hasn’t disappeared. Pederson has four home runs in his last 15 games and nine in his last 30.
Jake Burger is the one Ranger in this group who has seen Johnson before, though only once, and he didn’t get a hit in that at-bat. His bat has been edging in the right direction lately, too.
Over his last 30 games he’s hitting .202, over his last 15 he’s up to .220, and over his last seven he’s climbed to .238. For Texas, that’s the kind of trend that matters right now.
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