SEATTLE — Timing against Bryce Miller‘s fastball is what Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker put at the center of his club’s approach Tuesday night, and it is why Nicky Lopez drew a spot start in the series opener against the Seattle Mariners.
Miller has had success against right-handed hitters, which shaped the lineup Schumaker turned in at T-Mobile Park.
“I think timing. Hitting is always about timing. And if we’re on time for his really good fastball, we should be okay,” Schumaker said. “He’s had really good success against right-handers. That’s why we have a number of lefties. Nicky Lopez getting the spot start today.”
Lopez, a left-handed hitter, joined Texas in 2026 after stints with the Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Chicago Cubs. He has started at second base and shortstop for the Rangers this season.
Miller is 4-8 with a 4.01 ERA in 2026. Seattle drafted him in the fourth round out of Texas A&M in 2021, and he struck out 10 without a walk in his major league debut on May 2, 2023, against the Athletics.
Texas Rangers Lead The Season Series Against Seattle 7-3
Texas leads the season series 7-3, and six of those wins came at Globe Life Field. Tuesday is the 11th meeting of the year between the clubs and the last of the season. Seattle is 67-77 and third in the American League West, and the Mariners are 38-34 at home.
Josh Naylor has 20 doubles, 10 home runs, and 49 RBIs while hitting .267 for Seattle. Cal Raleigh went 12-for-37 with four doubles and three home runs over the Mariners’ previous 10 games.
Skip Schumaker On The Texas Rangers’ Power Against Bryce Miller
Texas has to be on time with the fastball, and the last time the Rangers faced Miller their right-handed hitters got to him.
“I think our righties, the last time we faced him, hit a couple homers. Jake Burger hit a home run against them opposite field,” Schumaker explained. “So hopefully we can get some power, but it’s always on time with the fastball.”
Corey Seager homered off Miller in the first inning Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park. Cal Quantrill worked a scoreless bottom half on 12 pitches and allowed one hit.
Jake Burger homered twice in Sunday’s 8-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field. He has 25 home runs and 82 RBIs this season. Texas ranks seventh in the American League with 165 home runs.
Quantrill is 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA in 29 appearances, 12 of them starts, and has a 1.25 ERA over eight outings since July 28 at Tampa Bay. Cody Bradford follows Wednesday and Jacob deGrom takes the finale Thursday.
Texas opened the road trip at 71-73 with 18 games left, two games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West and two games out of the third American League wild card spot. The Rangers are 31-41 on the road and 6-17 against AL West opponents away from Globe Life Field.
Robert Garcia came off the 60-day injured list Monday, and Josh Jung began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.
Texas and Seattle opened the three-game series Tuesday night at T-Mobile Park. Both remaining games begin at 3:10 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network, and the Rangers open a three-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
