The Texas Rangers are on the brink of a rare and impressive achievement-a four-game sweep on the road. With three victories already under their belt, the Rangers (41-42) are not only eyeing a sweep over the Toronto Blue Jays but are also just one win away from reaching a .500 record for the first time since July 11.
Taking the mound for the Rangers on Sunday is Kumar Rocker. This time, the team is opting to start him without an opener, a strategy that proved successful in his last outing. The bullpen has been heavily utilized in the past three games, leaving Cole Winn and Winston Santos as the freshest arms available to potentially support Rocker as the Rangers aim to complete the sweep.
Toronto, on the other hand, will counter with Shane Bieber. This marks only his second start of the season and his first against the Rangers in four years, adding an intriguing layer to this matchup.
Here's a look at Sunday's lineup and three key matchups to keep an eye on:
Sunday Game Details:
- Time: 12:37 p.m.
- TV: Rangers Sports Network (streaming available on Victory+); Blue Jays: Sportsnet
- Radio: Rangers: KRLD 1080, KFLC 1270; Blue Jays: SN590 THE FAN
Pitching Matchup:
- Texas RHP Kumar Rocker (2-6, 4.14 ERA) vs. Toronto RHP Shane Bieber (0-0, 9.82 ERA)
Key Matchups:
- Jake Burger: The Rangers' first baseman is on a hot streak, with five hits already in this series.
He has a solid track record against Bieber, boasting a .400 average with a home run and two RBIs in five at-bats. Burger's recent performance has been stellar, slashing .327/.417/.538 over the last 15 games, with three homers and nine RBIs, nudging his season average closer to .260.
- Corey Seager: Making strides after returning from the injured list, Seager hit a home run on Saturday, his first hit since his return on Thursday.
With 10 home runs on the season, Seager has the potential to reach 25 by the end of the year if he can maintain his form. In his last seven games, including the five post-IL appearances, he's slashed .214/.313/.536 with three home runs and five RBIs.
- Ernie Clement: The Blue Jays' second baseman has been a standout, earning the most votes of any AL player for the All-Star Game in Philadelphia.
He's the only Blue Jay with a hit off Rocker and has been on a tear over the last seven games, slashing .409/.435/.455. Clement's performance is a key reason why Ezequiel Duran won't be competing for an All-Star starting spot at second base.
As the Rangers look to cap off a successful series, these matchups will be pivotal in determining whether they can pull off the sweep and inch closer to a balanced win-loss record.
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The catch is that his profile comes with some risk, and that is the sort of calculation Texas has to make when it is picking in the middle of the round. Lebrons tools suggest plenty of upside, but his recent performance against better competition has left enough questions about consistency that the Rangers will have to decide whether the ceiling is worth the gamble. [Read more 🡒]
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Rangers Rotation Pressure Keeps Mounting As Veteran Starter Waits
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Even so, Texas is keeping the leash short for now, which makes sense given how carefully the club has handled his workload and how much strain the rotation has already absorbed. With Jack Leiter on the injured list, the Rangers can use every healthy arm they can get, but Montgomery is still being brought along slowly and remains a ways from being ready to help in Arlington. [Read more 🡒]