The Texas Rangers (70-74, 3rd AL West) begin a brief interleague series on Tuesday at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks (80-64, 3rd NL West). Recently, Texas secured a 7-4 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, winning three out of four games in that series. The Rangers have been on a roll, winning five of their last six games. Despite this resurgence, they trail the first-place team in the American League West by 7 ½ games, with 18 games left in the season. They also find themselves 6 ½ games behind the third and final wild card spot in the AL. On the flip side, Arizona broke a three-game losing streak with a 12-6 win against the Houston Astros and currently holds the second wild card position in the National League. However, both teams face significant player absences; Texas will be without eight pitchers as well as position players Corey Seager and Evan Carter, while Arizona will miss three pitchers and position players Lourdes Gurriel and Gabriel Moreno.
Offensive Struggles of the Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers have faced difficulties both offensively and defensively this season. They rank 19th in on-base percentage (.306), 20th in batting average (.239), 21st in runs scored (606), and 24th in slugging percentage (.379). Although Corey Seager has been a standout player with 30 home runs and 74 RBIs, his injury leaves a significant gap in the lineup. Adolis Garcia currently leads the active roster with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs. The team has recorded 199 doubles, 14 triples, and 151 home runs, totaling 364 extra-base hits over 144 games.
Defensively, Texas ranks 13th in batting average allowed (.239) and 22nd in ERA (4.25). Nathan Eovaldi is set to take the mound for Texas on Tuesday, bringing a record of 11 wins and an ERA of 3.55. Eovaldi has recorded 144 strikeouts, demonstrating his ability to keep the game competitive despite the team’s overall struggles.
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Offensive Might
The Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves excelling in hitting categories this season. They rank first in both runs scored (782) and on-base percentage (.335), while also placing second in batting average (.262) and third in slugging percentage (.436). Ketel Marte leads the team with 30 home runs and is second in RBIs with 81. However, his recent performance has waned, as he has only managed four hits in his last 23 at-bats. Eugenio Suarez has stepped up, contributing 26 home runs and leading the team with 90 RBIs. The Diamondbacks have accumulated an impressive total of 453 extra-base hits, including 237 doubles and 33 triples.
Defensively, Arizona faces challenges, ranking 16th in Quality Starts (51) and 27th in ERA (4.61). Zac Gallen will be the starting pitcher for Arizona, holding a record of 11 wins and an ERA of 3.69. Brandon Pfaadt leads the team in strikeouts with 160, but Gallen’s recent outings have shown inconsistency, allowing 17 hits and nine runs in his last four starts.
Strategic Betting Insights for Rangers vs. Diamondbacks
The Texas Rangers are currently on a winning streak, having claimed five of their last six games. Additionally, they have historically performed well against the Diamondbacks, winning their last five matchups. Texas has also secured victories in five of their last seven games played in Arizona. Contrastingly, the Diamondbacks have struggled against American League West teams, losing 13 of their last 20 encounters. Texas’s starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is coming off two strong performances, allowing just five hits and two runs in 14 innings during games against the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. Meanwhile, Arizona’s Zac Gallen has faced challenges in his recent starts, leading to a 2-2 record over that span. Both teams will feel the absence of key players due to injuries, with Gurriel out for Arizona and Seager sidelined for Texas, highlighting the importance of depth in their rosters.
