Texas Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Rays Series Preview
Pitchers:
Starters:
17 – Nathan Eovaldi – RHP (12-5, 3.63 ERA)
33 – Dane Dunning – RHP (12-6, 3.72 ERA)
44 – Andrew Heaney – LHP (10-6, 4.15 ERA)
52 – Jordan Montgomery – LHP (10-11, 3.20 ERA)
54 – Martin Perez – LHP (10-4, 4.57 ERA)
Jordan Montgomery will start game one of the series, while Nathan Eovaldi will have game two, and if it goes to game three, Dane Dunning will get the ball, meaning Andrew Heaney and Martin Perez will be working out of the bullpen in this one.
Bullpen:
25 – Jose Leclerc – RHP (0-2, 2.68 ERA)
35 – Chris Stratton – RHP (2-1, 3.92 ERA)
45 – Aroldis Chapman – LHP (6-5, 3.09 ERA)
46 – Brock Burke – LHP (5-3, 4.37 ERA)
49 – Matt Bush – RHP (0-2, 9.58 ERA)
51 – Will Smith – LHP (2-7, 4.40 ERA)
65 – Grant Anderson – RHP (2-1, 5.05 ERA)
66 – Josh Sborz – RHP (6-7, 5.50 ERA)
The Rangers bullpen has some solid names, with Aroldis Chapman and Will Smith holding down the back end, and it will add even more depth with Heaney and Perez being a part of it.
Hitters:
Catchers:
11 – Austin Hedges (.184/1/16)
18 – Mitch Garver (.274/19/50)
28 – Jonah Heim (.258/18/95)
Infielders:
2 – Marcus Semien (.278/29/100)
5 – Corey Seager (.330/33/96)
6 – Josh Jung (.267/23/70)
30 – Nathaniel Lowe (.263/17/82)
47 – Josh H. Smith (.185/6/15)
Outfielders:
3 – Leody Taveras (.268/14/67)
4 – Robbie Grossman (.238/10/49)
16 – Travis Jankowski (.263/1/30)
32 – Evan Carter (.288/5/12)
53 – Adolis Garcia (.245/39/107)
The Rangers lineup finished the 2023 regular season third in runs, home runs, RBI, walks, OBP, SLG, and OPS, and they finished second in batting average and were fourth in all of baseball with their run differential. Look for them to put up runs despite facing a solid pitching staff in the Rays.
