ARLINGTON, Texas — Left-hander Tyler Alexander is starting for the Texas Rangers against the Boston Red Sox in Thursday night’s series finale at Globe Life Field, according to the club’s lineup card, with Ezequiel Durán leading off at third base. First pitch is 7:05 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network, and the roof is closed.
Here is the Texas lineup:
- Ezequiel Durán, 3B
- Corey Seager, SS
- Josh Jung, DH
- Brandon Nimmo, RF
- Wyatt Langford, LF
- Jake Burger, 1B
- Nicky Lopez, 2B
- Danny Jansen, C
- Evan Carter, CF
Justin Foscue and Elias Díaz are both out of the lineup a night after Texas beat Boston 7-3. Foscue led off that game and finished with 2 hits, doubling on the first pitch of the night and singling home Wyatt Langford in the fourth inning to tie it.
Rangers manager Skip Schumaker was asked about the offense after Wednesday’s win, and he said there was some frustration early in the game with runners on base.
“Justin Foscue has been so good at the top of the lineup as well, and then obviously Seager at the end,” Schumaker said. “But up and down the lineup, I could go through each guy that had productive outs, even when they made the outs, and then they had productive at-bats with guys in scoring position. There was some frustration a little bit early on when we had guys on base and didn’t knock them in, but they capitalized towards the end of the game.”
Boston has right-hander Sonny Gray (17-5, 2.76 ERA) scheduled.
Tyler Alexander Starts After Skip Schumaker Named Cody Bradford
Immediately after Wednesday’s 7-3 win, Schumaker said Cody Bradford would start Thursday, Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports reported. The club announced Alexander later that night, and Wilson then wrote that it appears Bradford will be the bulk pitcher.
Alexander retired the side in order in the seventh inning Tuesday. Back on May 19 at Colorado, he made his first start of the season, opening ahead of Kumar Rocker in a 10-0 win, and his second start came a month later, on June 22 at Miami. The Rangers used him as an opener again July 22 against the Chicago White Sox, that time ahead of Cal Quantrill.
Bradford (0-5, 4.72 ERA) last pitched Sept. 9 at T-Mobile Park, where he allowed 3 runs on 4 hits over 4 innings in a 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners, with 2 walks and 1 strikeout.
Texas leaned on Nathan Eovaldi for the final 4 innings Wednesday, and Schumaker said closer Jacob Latz and Robert Garcia were unavailable that night.
“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.”
Texas Rangers Can Sweep The Series
With wins of 4-2 on Tuesday and 7-3 on Wednesday, Texas has already taken the series, and a win Thursday would give the Rangers a sweep. At 76-76, they are tied with the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West, though Houston holds the tiebreaker, and they sit one game out of the third and final American League wild card with 10 games left.
Boston arrived in Arlington at 82-70 and has lost five of its last seven games, which leaves the Red Sox holding the second wild card by five games over the White Sox. The teams met June 12 to 14 at Fenway Park, where Boston won two of three, and Texas now leads the season series 3-2.
Latz got the final 5 outs Tuesday night for his 30th save in 33 chances. He was asked afterward about the stretch in front of Texas.
“We’re at the right time here,” Latz said. “We know what’s in front of us. We’ve been saying that for a while, and it’s crunch time, and we’re up for the challenge.”
After the game, Eovaldi spoke with Rangers Sports Network, and for him the division race comes down to everybody doing their part.
“We just got to keep playing baseball,” Eovaldi said. “Keep playing the games that we’ve been doing right now. We’ve been playing well lately, and I think it’s a combination of everybody really stepping up and doing their part.”
The Toronto Blue Jays visit Globe Life Field from Sept. 18 to 20, and the New York Mets follow from Sept. 22 to 24.
