SEATTLE — The road is the piece Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker singled out with 18 games left, and he said so on Rangers Sports Network before the opener of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
Texas came into the trip 31-41 away from Globe Life Field and 6-17 against American League West opponents on the road. The Rangers lead the season series against Seattle 7-3, and six of those seven wins came in Arlington.
Getting to the finish line healthy is how Schumaker framed the remaining schedule, and the plan resets daily on usage and availability.
“We look at everything. So we’re constantly trying to figure out exactly how to get to the finish line, winning and healthy,” Schumaker said. “But it’s all predicated on today. Things can change the next day and the day after that based on usage and based on how guys feel, if they’re healthy, what we have coming.”
Sunday’s 8-6 win over the Tampa Bay Rays closed a winning homestand and sent Texas west on a six-game trip through Seattle and Arizona. The Rangers trailed 4-1 after two innings, scored four in the fourth and two in the fifth, and added a run in the eighth.
Texas opened the trip at 71-73, second in the American League West and two games behind the Houston Astros. The Rangers are also two games out of the third and final American League wild card spot.
Skip Schumaker Weighed Momentum Against An Off Day
Texas used its entire bullpen and everyone on the roster to win Sunday, and Monday came without a game.
“I think there’s a number of ways to think about it. That was arguably our best win of the year. And so you kind of want to ride that momentum into the next day,” Schumaker explained. “However, when you use your entire bullpen and everyone on your roster, having an off day to kind of give your body a break and your mind a break is also essential. So I think it’s a combination of things.”
“I know those guys are excited. We have 18 left to get this thing going against a really good Seattle team on the road, which we have to figure out, obviously,” Schumaker continued. “And so it’s a good vibe so far, and hopefully we can carry that into the game tonight.”
Jake Burger homered twice Sunday and drove in 3 runs.
The Last Texas Rangers Meeting With Seattle Came July 24
The last meeting between the clubs came July 24 at Globe Life Field, when Texas won 5-4 to open a four-game series between the top two teams in the division. The Rangers were 52-51 that night and moved a game and a half clear in the West.
Cal Quantrill started the opener Tuesday night. He is 7-5 with a 2.79 ERA in 29 appearances, 12 of them starts, and has a 1.25 ERA over eight outings since July 28 at Tampa Bay. Bryce Miller started for Seattle and is 4-8 with a 4.01 ERA.
Cody Bradford follows Wednesday and Jacob deGrom takes the finale Thursday. Texas flipped Quantrill and Bradford after Sunday’s game so Quantrill could start twice on the trip.
Nathan Eovaldi threw a live batting practice session of about 30 pitches Tuesday. Robert Garcia came off the 60-day injured list Monday after one rehab appearance, and Josh Jung began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday.
Seattle is 67-77 and third in the American League West. The Mariners are 38-34 at home. Tuesday was the 11th meeting between the clubs this season and the last of the year.
Both remaining games in the series begin at 3:10 p.m. CT on Rangers Sports Network, and the Rangers open a three-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.
