The Texas Rangers are back at Globe Life Field after a six-game road trip, and their return certainly comes against a worthy opponent.
The Texas Rangers are back at Globe Life Field after a six-game road trip, and their return certainly comes against a worthy opponent.
Texas will welcome the red-hot 26-12 Chicago Cubs to Arlington for a three-game series beginning on Friday night.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CST, with the game being broadcast on CW33 in the DFW area and 105.3 The Fan on the radio side of things.
Fans planning on coming out to Globe Life Field should do so early as the first 10,000 fans will receive a Jack Leiter City Connect Bobblehead.
Speaking of City Connect, Friday night will mark just the second time Texas will don its new red City Connect uniforms.
The Rangers will seek to pick up their first win in their new threads as they fell 8-1 to the Athletics in their debut game last homestand.
Even though it’s Leiter’s bobblehead night, it will be his fellow Vanderbilt alum Kumar Rocker who will take the mound.
Rocker enters play with a 1-3 record and a 4.71 ERA on the season. There’s no doubt he will have his work cut out for him as he faces one of the best lineups in baseball this season.
Despite the Cubs' lineup being elite, they don’t have any experience against Rocker. Not a single Cubs batter has ever faced Rocker in an MLB game.
The Rangers will hope that plays to Rocker’s advantage as they look to build some real momentum for the first time this season.
Offensively, the Rangers will be facing Ben Brown, who has had a very strong start to the season. Brown enters play on Friday with a 1-1 record and a 2.10 ERA.
No Ranger has faced Brown more than three times, so it will be a matchup of unfamiliarity on both sides.
There’s no doubt the Rangers will have their work cut out for them this weekend as they take on a Cubs team that is tied for the best record in the National League.
On the flip side, Texas has a big opportunity to win a series against one of baseball’s best teams before entering a stretch of play in which they will face several struggling teams.
Texas will need to shake off its offensive struggles at home so far this season as it will undoubtedly need to cash in on any opportunities they get against a really good Cubs team.
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