Struggling to reclaim the American League West lead, the Texas Rangers unleash Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi to snap a recent skid against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Texas Rangers have dropped three of their last four games, a stretch that no one expected after they won six straight from June 25 to June 30.
Currently, the Rangers are 45-45 which puts them at second place in the American League West Division. With a crucial three-game showdown against the last-place Los Angeles Angels ahead, these are games that the Rangers must win if they want to return to first place.
The Seattle Mariners only have a 1.5-game lead on the Rangers, but that's a lead that could quickly fade away if the Rangers lose to a team that has no business beating them. With how things have been going, anything is possible, especially here in the AL West.
Tuesday, July 7
Jose Soriano (8-5, 3.42 ERA) vs. Jacob deGrom (7-5, 3.48 ERA)
Following a day off on Monday, July 6, the Rangers will give deGrom his second-to-last start before the All-Star break. It's worth noting that as long as everything goes according to plan, deGrom is the only Rangers starter set to appear in two of their final six games.
Soriano, 27, has given up at least three runs in four of his last five starts. He just picked up a loss on Tuesday, June 30, so it'll have been a full week since he last pitched. His start wasn't perfect as he gave up three earned runs on six hits, but he also struck out nine batters in just 5.0 innings.
Wednesday, July 8
Walbert Urena (5-7, 3.03 ERA) vs. MacKenzie Gore (5-7, 4.31 ERA)
Knowing these two pitchers have the same record, it's fun to compare some of their other numbers. Urena has a much better ERA, but his WHIP (1.31) is higher than Gore's (1.27). Another huge difference is in the strikeout department as Gore has fanned 104 batters while Urena has struck out just 75.
Thursday, July 9
Reid Detmers (3-6, 4.13 ERA) vs. Nathan Eovaldi (9-7, 4.02 ERA)
For the second time in this series, a pair of starting pitchers with 100-plus strikeouts will be battling each other. The Rangers have a tremendous starting rotation rolled out for this series, but they can't sleep on the Angels pitching staff.
Detmers, 27, is the lone lefty starter the Rangers have to face in this three-game stretch. Currently in his sixth season with the Angels, it's a bit alarming that the Illinois native has given up five runs in two of his last three starts.
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