ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have not named a starter for Thursday’s series finale against the Boston Red Sox, who have right-hander Sonny Gray scheduled. First pitch at Globe Life Field is 7:05 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network.
Texas announced Jacob deGrom for Tuesday’s opener against left-hander Patrick Sandoval. On Wednesday, MacKenzie Gore faces Red Sox rookie left-hander Jake Bennett.
Kumar Rocker, Nathan Eovaldi, and Cal Quantrill Pitched in Arizona
On Saturday at Chase Field, Kumar Rocker lasted 4 innings in a 6-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He entered that start 5-11 with a 4.61 ERA. By mid-August, Rocker had already thrown 111 innings, the most of his major league career. Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young has said the club could monitor Rocker’s workload.
Nathan Eovaldi followed Rocker on Saturday and covered 2 2/3 innings. Texas activated him from the injured list that day and moved him to the bullpen. He had not been on the Rangers’ roster since Aug. 7 and had been sidelined by right posterior elbow inflammation.
Cal Quantrill started Sunday’s finale, a 7-6 Rangers win. He entered that game 8-5 with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP over 102 2/3 innings, with 77 strikeouts. On Sept. 3, he threw 7 scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Quantrill is dealing with a back issue.
Jack Leiter has not thrown since Aug. 26, when he cut short a rehab outing at Round Rock with biceps soreness. He is on the 60-day injured list with a right ankle issue.
Texas is 74-76 and one game behind the Houston Astros in the American League West. Houston holds the tiebreaker. The Rangers are 40-32 at home, and the Boston series opens a nine-game homestand.
Sonny Gray’s Season With the Red Sox
Gray is 17-5 with a 2.76 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP over 156 2/3 innings. His 17 wins are tied for the most in the majors. The 36-year-old is a three-time All-Star.
On Friday against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park, Gray allowed 3 runs over 6 innings in a 3-2 loss. He threw 90 pitches, 60 for strikes. In his previous start on Sept. 5 at Baltimore, he threw 7 innings against the Baltimore Orioles and allowed 3 hits, 0 earned runs, 3 walks, and 7 strikeouts for his 17th win.
In late August, Boston pushed back Gray’s turn in the rotation to give him extra rest. The Orioles start came 10 days after his previous appearance.
Boston acquired Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason. He is in the final season of a three-year, $75 million contract that includes a mutual option for 2027. Garrett Crochet has been out since April with a shoulder injury and is on the 60-day injured list.
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. Interim manager Chad Tracy is 72-51 since taking over April 26.
The teams met once before this season, from June 12 to 14 at Fenway Park. Boston won two of three, and Texas took the finale 6-4.
After Thursday, Texas hosts the Toronto Blue Jays from Sept. 18 to 20.
