ARLINGTON, Texas — Jacob deGrom starts Tuesday night at Globe Life Field as the Texas Rangers open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. Boston is sending left-hander Patrick Sandoval to the mound in the opener.
On Wednesday, MacKenzie Gore faces Red Sox rookie left-hander Jake Bennett. Texas has not named a starter for Thursday’s finale, and Boston has right-hander Sonny Gray scheduled. First pitch for all three games is set for 7:05 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network.
After Monday’s off day, Texas opens a nine-game homestand at 74-76. The Rangers sit one game behind the Houston Astros in the American League West, and Houston holds the tiebreaker. Texas is 40-32 at Globe Life Field this season.
Over the weekend, the Rangers took two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, winning 6-2 on Saturday and 7-6 on Sunday. Texas had lost eight straight road series before that. The weekend opened with a 9-1 loss Friday, one night after a 4-3 loss in Seattle.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Sunday that the two wins in Phoenix followed a tough final game in Seattle, and that he wants to carry the momentum into a homestand against more tough teams.
“But that was a big win, and a much-needed win,” Schumaker said.
Jacob deGrom and MacKenzie Gore Start the First Two Games
deGrom is 10-9 with a 3.80 ERA and 186 strikeouts over 149 1/3 innings in 28 starts. In his last outing Thursday at T-Mobile Park, he threw 6 scoreless innings against the Seattle Mariners, allowing 1 hit and 1 walk with 12 strikeouts. His groin tightened when he covered first base in the fourth inning. He did not pitch the seventh, and Schumaker said Saturday that deGrom might skip his bullpen session between starts.
Sandoval is 1-5 with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP in 11 starts for Boston. He has 57 strikeouts. On Sept. 8 at Fenway Park, the Los Angeles Angels scored 4 runs against him over 6 innings. Through his first six starts of the season, Sandoval had a 3.30 ERA. Over his last five, he is 0-4 with a 6.12 ERA.
Gore’s 31 starts lead the majors. He is 8-11 with a 4.62 ERA and 172 strikeouts in 161 2/3 innings. In Friday’s loss in Phoenix, Arizona scored 4 runs on 5 hits against him in 4-plus innings, and he walked 3 and struck out 2.
Boston acquired Bennett, 25, from the Washington Nationals during the offseason. He is 9-7 with a 3.69 ERA. Last Wednesday against the Angels, Bennett allowed 6 runs on 9 hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 6-4 Boston loss.
Sonny Gray Scheduled for Thursday’s Finale
Gray is 17-5 with a 2.76 ERA over 156 2/3 innings. His 17 wins are tied for the most in the majors. On Friday against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park, Gray allowed 3 runs over 6 innings in a 3-2 loss.
Nathan Eovaldi returned from the injured list Saturday and went to the bullpen. He threw 2 2/3 innings in relief of Kumar Rocker that night. Cal Quantrill started Sunday’s finale in Arizona and is dealing with a back issue. Jack Leiter remains on the 60-day injured list with a right ankle issue.
Boston is 82-68 and third in the American League East. The Red Sox hold an American League wild-card spot with 12 games left, and they took two of three from Kansas City over the weekend. Interim manager Chad Tracy has led the club since April 26, the day after Boston dismissed Alex Cora. Tracy is 72-51.
This is the second series between the teams this season. Boston won two of three at Fenway Park from June 12 to 14.
Once Boston leaves, Texas hosts the Toronto Blue Jays from Sept. 18 to 20 and the New York Mets from Sept. 22 to 24. The Rangers finish the regular season with three games at the Minnesota Twins from Sept. 25 to 27.
