Rangers Look to Bounce Back in Game Two Against Diamondbacks

For Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, there’s a sense of urgency ahead of Saturday night’s second game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

“We still have some games; time hasn’t run out yet,” Schumaker said after Friday night’s 9-1 series opening loss. “There’s a lot of games to play, but we’ve got to get going. After a tough loss last night, it only defines you if you allow it, and we’re trying not to let it define us just yet so we have some time, but we gotta get going, and it starts tomorrow.”

Saturday’s first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 P.M. CST in yet another late start on this West Coast road swing.

All the action will return to Rangers Sports Network after last night’s CW33 broadcast. On the radio side of things, 105.3 The Fan will still have all the action as usual.

The Rangers come into play three games back of both first place in the American League West and in the AL Wild Card race.

After tonight’s game, Texas will have just four road games left this season. One of those comes Sunday afternoon against the D-backs.

Kumar Rocker will take the mound for the Rangers to make his 25th start (28th appearance) in his first full season in the big leagues.

Rocker comes into play with a 5-11 record, a 4.61 ERA, a 1.44 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts in 134.2 innings.

In his last outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, Rocker struggled, allowing five earned runs on nine hits in five innings.

When Arizona visited Globe Life Field earlier this season, Rocker fired five scoreless innings against them, allowing just three hits and four walks in a game the Rangers would go on to win 6-5. That start was the only other time Rocker has faced the Diamondbacks this season.

On the other side of the ball, Rangers hitters will be tasked with facing Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt.

Pfaadt comes into play with a 7-2 record, a 3.53 ERA, and 77 strikeouts in 117.1 innings in 26 appearances this season.

Unlike Rocker, Pfaadt did not face the Rangers when the two teams met up in Arlington earlier this season.

In his career, Pfaadt holds a 0-1 record with a 6.75 ERA against Texas. He made his Major League debut against the Rangers back on May 3, 2023.