The Texas Rangers typically salivate when facing left-handed pitching.
On Wednesday night, they’ll take aim against Chicago White Sox southpaw Anthony Kay while trying for a home series win.
Texas routed the White Sox 10-0 on Tuesday night, collecting 17 of its season-high 18 hits against lefties. Led by a 4-for-4 effort from Brandon Nimmo and Alejandro Osuna’s 3-for-4 day, a trio of left-handed hitters had multi-hit games.
Rangers’ left-handed hitters are batting .336 against southpaws since June 1.
“We’re excited to get good ABs against lefties,” Osuna said.
The Rangers have first-inning home runs in the first two games of the series. Nimmo accomplished the feat Tuesday, reaching Chicago rookie left-hander Noah Schultz for a two-run shot.
Wyatt Langford, who bats from the right side, also drilled a two-run homer for Texas. Langford has eight home runs and 19 RBIs in the past 18 games.
“He came in with a different edge today, so I don’t know what’s going on, but I loved it,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said.
Texas has a half-game lead over the Seattle Mariners atop the American League West as Seattle lost to the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.
Schumaker didn’t have an immediate update on third baseman Josh Jung, who left in the fourth inning Tuesday with left calf tightness.
Meanwhile, coupled with a Cleveland Guardians victory against the Minnesota Twins, the White Sox fell into a first-place tie with Cleveland in the AL Central.
But bad news came in pairs for the White Sox on Tuesday. The club learned earlier in the day that the high-ankle sprain suffered by catcher Kyle Teel in the second inning of their 10-3 win on Monday would keep him out for six to 12 weeks.
Teel has played in just 19 games this season. He strained his right hamstring during the World Baseball Classic in March and suffered a right knee strain in a minor league rehab assignment in May.
“Yeah, it’s very frustrating,” Teel said. “It’s not how I anticipated this year to go. I put a lot of work in this offseason. I just wanted it really bad.
“It’s very unfortunate, but I’m not going to sit around and feel bad for myself. I’m just going to keep pushing every day and do everything I can to help this team win when I’m back.”
The Rangers held the potent White Sox offense to three hits on Tuesday, but Chicago will attempt to win its third straight series as Kay (6-4, 4.24 ERA) gets the call. He will try for his first victory since June 12. After working at least five innings in each of his six May starts, Kay has reached that threshold only three times in eight starts since.
He took a no-decision at Toronto on Friday, scattering two runs and two hits in four innings with three walks and five strikeouts in Chicago’s 12-4 victory. Kay has not faced Texas in his career.
The Rangers plan to use left-hander Tyler Alexander (1-1, 2.79 ERA) as an opener against the lefty-heavy top of the White Sox’s order. He has made 44 appearances, three in a starting role.
Right-hander Cal Quantrill (3-2, 3.93) is expected to be the bulk reliever for the Rangers. After pitching out of the bullpen to begin the season, Quantrill joined the rotation in late June. He is coming off Friday’s 15-1 road loss Friday in Atlanta, where the Braves tagged him for six runs on 11 hits in four innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
Quantrill is 2-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 12 career appearances (eight starts) against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
