ARLINGTON, Texas — Cody Bradford will start Wednesday night against the New York Mets with no opener ahead of him. A week earlier, the Texas Rangers used left-hander Tyler Alexander to open his last outing.
Texas announced Bradford as its starter after Tuesday’s 6-3 loss to the Mets. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. CT at Globe Life Field. Mets rookie right-hander Nolan McLean (11-10, 3.18 ERA) starts for New York.
The loss left the Rangers tied with the Houston Astros atop the American League West at 78-79. Both teams have five games left. Houston won the season series 9-4 and holds the tiebreaker.
Cody Bradford Followed Opener Tyler Alexander Against Boston Red Sox
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker spoke before Wednesday’s game on The Skip Schumaker Show, the pregame segment Rangers Sports Network posts before games.
Alexander worked the first inning Sept. 17 against the Boston Red Sox. Bradford followed with 4 1/3 scoreless innings and 3 strikeouts. It was his longest outing in September and the only one that did not come as a start.
“I think every game is different and every matchup is different,” Schumaker said. “And Cody was really good the other day. Last time he pitched, it actually, his stuff ticked up, which is always a good sign. And when you have the fastball velo a little bit more, it also affects the changeup. And you want that 10 to 12 mile an hour difference in that changeup because it’s such a good changeup.”
“And you want to keep him off balance with the fastball,” Schumaker continued. “When it’s in like the 6 to 7 mile an hour difference, that’s when the guys can react a little bit easier. And Cody did a really good job. He’s coming off Tommy John, and a lot of time it just takes time to get back to where he feels like he should be. Yes, last outing was really, really encouraging, and hopefully he can build off that tonight.”
Texas led Boston 3-1 in the eighth inning that night. The Red Sox then hit a three-run home run off Jacob Latz and won 4-3.
Cody Bradford’s Season Since Returning From Left Elbow Procedure
Bradford is 0-5 with a 4.19 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings this season. He returned Aug. 5 from an internal brace procedure on his left elbow. He had the procedure in June 2025, and it cost him the entire 2025 season. Wednesday is his eighth start and ninth appearance since coming back.
His two September starts before the Boston outing both lasted 4 innings. On Sept. 2 at Globe Life Field, Bradford gave up 5 runs and 3 home runs in a 9-2 loss. A week later at T-Mobile Park, he allowed 4 hits, 3 earned runs, and 2 walks with 1 strikeout in a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners.
An Aledo native, Bradford pitched at Baylor, and Texas drafted him in the sixth round in 2019. He was part of the Rangers’ 2023 World Series title team. In 2024, he went 6-3 with a 3.54 ERA in 14 appearances, 13 of them starts.
Evan Carter and Nicky Lopez are back in the lineup behind Bradford after sitting out Tuesday. Carter is in center field and Lopez is at second base.
The Rangers and Mets finish the series Thursday at 1:35 p.m. CT. Texas then plays three games at Minnesota to close the regular season.
