Rangers-Diamondbacks preview: Pitching probables, key players in World Series rematch

Sep 10, 2024, 7:35 AM

Arizona Diamondbacks designated hitter Joc Pederson is tagged out at the plate by Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim during the sixth inning at Globe Life Field on May 28, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

The Arizona Diamondbacks aim to get on track against the middling Texas Rangers in a two-game series beginning Tuesday at Chase Field.

The D-backs have lost six of their last 10 and now hold a 1.0-game lead over the red-hot New York Mets, who are 9-1 in their last 10 and in the third and final Wild Card spot. Arizona has a 2.0-game lead in the Wild Card race over the Atlanta Braves, the top team on the outside looking in.

It will be the second two-game series between the teams since the Rangers bested the Diamondbacks in five games during the 2023 World Series. Texas swept the earlier pair at its home.

Arizona fans still traumatized from the World Series won’t have to worry about slugger Corey Seager, who hit three home runs including one that tied Game 1 in the ninth inning.

Texas placed Seager on the 10-day injured list last week with a hip issue. The slugger is leading the Rangers in batting average (.278), home runs (30) and RBIs (74) this season.

The Rangers remain 7.5 games back in the NL West and 6.0 games back of the third Wild Card spot. Texas (70-74) is aiming not to become the first defending World Series champion to finish with a losing record since the 2014 Boston Red Sox went 71-91.

Diamondbacks-Rangers pitching probables

Tuesday, 6:40 p.m. — RHP Zac Gallen (11-6, 3.69 ERA) vs. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-7, 3.55)

Wednesday, 12:40 p.m. — RHP Merrill Kelly (4-0, 4.08 ERA) vs. Cody Bradford (5-2, 3.05)

Although a World Series rematch between Arizona and Texas won’t likely happen, the first game of the pair should remind viewers of the 2023 Fall Classic, as Gallen-Eovaldi got the series started last fall.

Neither pitcher had their best stuff in Game 1, with Gallen giving up three earned runs in five innings and Eovaldi surrendering five earned runs in 4.2 innings.

This time, Gallen is coming off arguably his best start of the year after throwing six innings of no-hit stuff on Wednesday in a win over the San Francisco Giants. It was the fourth time this season he pitched six innings without giving up a run.

Eovaldi is coming off two straight seven-inning outings, giving up two runs to the slugging New York Yankees and shutting out the lowly Chicago White Sox in the game prior.

Merrill Kelly will get the ball for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday. Kelly pitched 7.0 innings and allowed two earned runs and struck out eight in his last start, but the D-backs were unable to get much going offensively in a 3-2 loss in San Francisco. It was the first time Kelly had pitched seven innings into a game since his second start of the year back on April 3 against the New York Yankees. Kelly has made five starts since missing more than three months with a teres major strain.

The Rangers will turn to Bradford on Wednesday, who was dominant to start the season and posted a 1.40 ERA in his first three starts before suffering a stress fracture on his rib that put him on the 60-day injured list. He was activated on July 29.

He has since returned to form, recording a “quality start” (six innings and no more than three earned runs) in his last five outings.

The lefty also pitched scoreless innings of relief in Game 1 and Game 4 of the World Series against the Diamondbacks last fall.

Diamondbacks-Rangers hitters to watch

D-backs: Since returning from the injured list, Ketel Marte is 0-for-7 with a walk and four strikeouts. Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Friday the team would bring Marte’s defensive reps along slowly, so both of his games since returning have come at designated hitter. If Marte is right enough to get a day or two in the series back at second base, it could help get him back into rhythm at the plate.

Rangers: With Seager out of the lineup, the Rangers will look to Adolis Garcia to try and help fill the void offensively. Garcia hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 1 of the 2023 World Series. However, the outfielder later suffered a strained right oblique injury, which held him out of the final two games of the series.

This season, Garcia is batting .214 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs. He has struggled as of late and has just two hits in his last 25 at-bats and went the last three games without reaching base while striking out a combined six times.