The Texas Rangers open a 10-day, three-city road trip with a showdown against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park.
Following a thrilling series win against the San Diego Padres, the Texas Rangers hit the road for a 10-day, three-city road trip, beginning with an interleague tilt against the Miami Marlins on Monday night.
Things will get underway a little early for those back in Texas as first pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. CST.
Per usual, fans can catch all the action on Rangers Sports Network and on 105.3 The Fan on the radio side of things.
Kumar Rocker will take the mound for the Rangers to make his 15th appearance (14th start) of the season.
Coming into play on Monday, Rocker is 2-6 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 69 innings pitched this season.
In his last start against the Minnesota Twins on June 16th at Globe Life Field, Rocker struggled, giving up six earned runs in just 3.1 innings of work. Rocker has given up multiple earned runs in each of his last three starts.
As always with Rocker, throwing strikes and getting early count-outs will be key to his success on Monday night.
The Rangers will certainly welcome any length they can get from Rocker as the team’s next off day does not come for 11 more days.
Not to mention, the Rangers will be forced to deploy a bullpen game on Tuesday night as Jack Leiter will miss his scheduled start after he was placed on the Injured List with a right ankle posterior impingement.
Bullpen management will be a key for manager Skip Schumaker and his staff as they manage both this series and the road trip as a whole.
Offensively, the Rangers will be tasked with solving Marlins right-hander Tyler Phillips, who will appear in his 21st game but make just his fifth start.
Phillips is 1-2 with a 3.10 ERA in 51 innings this season. In his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies, Phillips allowed eight earned runs in just four innings of work.
No one on the Rangers roster has faced Phillips more than two times. First baseman Jake Burger is the only Texas hitter who has seen him twice, and he has picked up base hits in both of those at-bats.
Coming into play on Monday, the Rangers sit just two games back of first place in the American League West and one game back of the AL’s final Wild Card spot.
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