ARLINGTON, Texas — Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said after Wednesday night’s 7-3 win that Cody Bradford would start Thursday’s series finale. Later that night, the Texas Rangers announced left-hander Tyler Alexander as their scheduled starter against the Boston Red Sox.
Schumaker made the comment immediately after the game, Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports reported. After the club’s announcement, Wilson wrote that it appears Bradford will be the bulk pitcher. The Rangers have not announced a role for Bradford.
Shortly after 10 p.m. CT, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News and Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reported Bradford as Thursday’s starter. Wilson posted the same at 10:34 p.m. CT, and Dallas Sports Journal also wrote Bradford as the starter.
First pitch at Globe Life Field is 7:05 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network. Boston has right-hander Sonny Gray (17-5, 2.76 ERA) scheduled. Texas had not named its Thursday starter as of Tuesday.
The Rangers have won the first two games of the series, 4-2 on Tuesday and 7-3 on Wednesday. At 76-76, Texas is tied with the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West. Houston holds the tiebreaker.
Alexander retired the side in order in the seventh inning Tuesday. He made his first start of 2026 on May 19 at Colorado, opening ahead of Kumar Rocker in a 10-0 win. His second came June 22 at Miami. On July 22, he opened against the Chicago White Sox ahead of Cal Quantrill.
The Southlake Carroll product is in his eighth major league season. On Aug. 2, 2020, with the Detroit Tigers, he struck out nine consecutive Cincinnati Reds, a major league record for a reliever.
On Wednesday, Nathan Eovaldi threw the final 4 innings and allowed 1 hit. Schumaker said closer Jacob Latz and Robert Garcia were not available.
“He had around 60 or so pitches to work with,” Schumaker said. “And once we got into the game where it was we need four innings or it got tied up, just felt like he was the guy to take us to the end. We didn’t have Latz available. We didn’t have Garcia available today.”
Latz got the final 5 outs Tuesday for his 30th save in 33 chances. Garcia recorded one out in the eighth inning of that game.
Cody Bradford Is 0-5 Since Returning From Elbow Surgery
Bradford (0-5, 4.72 ERA) has made seven starts since the Rangers reinstated him from the 60-day injured list Aug. 5. He had an internal brace procedure on his left elbow in June 2025 and missed that entire season.
Through 34 1/3 innings this year, he has allowed 45 hits and 18 earned runs. He has walked 9 and struck out 17.
His most recent start came Sept. 9 at T-Mobile Park. Bradford allowed 3 runs on 4 hits over 4 innings against the Seattle Mariners, with 2 walks and 1 strikeout. Seattle won 3-2, and MLB.com reported it was Bradford’s fourth straight losing decision, a career high.
A week before that, on Sept. 2 against the Athletics at Globe Life Field, Bradford gave up 3 home runs over 4 innings in a 9-2 loss. Falling behind in counts put him in trouble that afternoon.
“I think fastball command and changeup command were kind of hit and miss today at times,” Bradford said after that start. “I think the inconsistency, falling behind in counts, putting them in hitters’ counts … they made some good damage swings.”
Bradford has not won a major league game since Sept. 18, 2024. That night at Globe Life Field, he held the Toronto Blue Jays scoreless over 7 innings in a 2-0 Rangers win. He finished 2024 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP over 13 starts.
The Aledo native was a rookie on the Rangers’ 2023 World Series team. Texas drafted him in the sixth round in 2019 out of Baylor.
Sonny Gray Goes for His 18th Win
Gray has a 1.17 WHIP over 156 2/3 innings. The 36-year-old is a three-time All-Star.
On Sept. 11 against the Kansas City Royals at Fenway Park, Gray allowed 3 runs over 6 innings in a 3-2 loss. In his previous start on Sept. 5, he allowed no earned runs over 7 innings against the Baltimore Orioles for his 17th win.
Boston acquired Gray from the St. Louis Cardinals before the season. He is in the final year of a three-year, $75 million contract that includes a mutual option for 2027.
The Red Sox (82-70) have lost five of their last seven games. They hold the second American League wild card, five games ahead of the White Sox.
The teams met June 12 to 14 at Fenway Park, where Boston won two of three. Texas leads the season series 3-2.
The Rangers are 42-32 at Globe Life Field this season. Toronto visits from Sept. 18 to 20.
