ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker credited the front office for adding catcher Elias Díaz off the free agent market after injuries hit the position.
Schumaker spoke to Rangers Sports Network before Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field.
“Well, it’s a credit to the front office. I think they acquired the right guys at the right time. We really needed catching help. We had both our catchers go down,” Schumaker said. “Díaz was on the free agent market, not only did we grab him, but we put him in the starting job behind the plate. And he’s not only controlled the running game, but he’s provided some offense when we really needed it.”
Elias Díaz Behind the Plate For The Texas Rangers
Díaz was not in the organization when the season began. He started behind the plate on Friday and batted ninth, and he caught Cal Quantrill through 7 scoreless innings in Thursday’s 6-0 win.
Kyle Higashioka is on the 10-day injured list. Danny Jansen and Logan O’Hoppe are also on the roster. O’Hoppe scored the second run of Thursday’s game on Ezequiel Duran‘s flare to right in the fifth inning, and Corey Seager followed with a two-run homer.
Quantrill allowed 2 hits and 2 walks and struck out 5 on Thursday. He did not allow an extra-base hit, and both walks came in his final inning. Jakob Junis and Chase Silseth finished the combined three-hitter, the 13th shutout of the season for Texas.
Schumaker said Quantrill and Díaz worked well together against a lineup that had faced him on July 28 at Tampa Bay. Texas won that game 4-1.
How The Texas Rangers Patched The Pitching Staff And Roster
Texas has used 34 different players on the mound this season. The bullpen carries a 4.36 ERA, which ranks 23rd in the majors, and the Rangers had allowed 620 runs in 141 games entering Friday.
Jack Leiter is on the 60-day injured list after going 3-7 with a 5.29 ERA over 15 starts and 80 innings. Nathan Eovaldi is on the 15-day injured list after 22 starts and a 4.21 ERA over 132 2/3 innings.
Texas signed right-hander Trevor Williams to a major league contract on Sept. 1 after Washington released him, and recalled infielder and outfielder Cam Cauley from Triple-A Round Rock the same day. Jacob Latz has 28 saves and a 1.63 ERA over 49 appearances and was an All-Star this season.
Tampa Bay led the majors in team batting average at .261 entering Friday. The Rays matched their season low with three hits on Thursday and were shut out for the eighth time this season. They had lost 10 straight games in Arlington, and their last win at Globe Life Field came on June 2, 2022.
Texas entered Friday at 70-71, one-half game behind Cleveland for the American League’s final wild-card spot and 2 games behind first-place Houston in the West, with 21 games left on the schedule.
Williams opened Friday’s game with Kumar Rocker lined up to follow, opposite Rays right-hander Nick Martinez (13-4, 2.99 ERA). First pitch was 7:05 p.m. CT with the roof closed at Globe Life Field.
