The Texas Rangers could feature their new look to their lineup on Wednesday when they face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the rubber match of their three-game series in Arlington, Texas.
The Rangers recorded their third win in the last four games with a 7-4 victory over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. They tried something new on Tuesday, placing Joc Pederson atop the lineup with Brandon Nimmo batting second.
Nimmo has batted in the lead-off position all season until Tuesday. Dropping him to No. 2 in the order paid dividends for Rangers manager Skip Schumaker, as Pederson homered to start the bottom of the first inning against the Diamondbacks.
Nimmo sustained a sprained left ankle in the sixth inning while legging out an infield single. He’s day to day as far as being able to play, so Pederson could stay in the leadoff role while attempting to extend his six-game on-base streak.
Nimmo was 3-for-4 including a triple when he left the game moments after his injury.
“He didn’t want to come out of the game,” Schumaker said. “He’s been a pain in my butt, trying to take him out of the game, which is a good thing. He’ll try to tell you he’s going to play tomorrow. That’s just who he is. So hopefully we dodged a bullet, which would be great, but we will see how he wakes up (Wednesday).”
Nimmo has been of the Rangers’ best hitters this season.
“I think it’s just going to be a feel thing for me. If I feel like we can tape it up and we can take some pain meds and whatnot and be good to go, then we’ll probably go,” Nimmo said. “If I feel like it’s going to hinder and possibly open us up to more injury, then we’ll take some days off.”
The Diamondbacks’ offense has not been consistent of late, with 15 total runs in the team’s last seven games. After posting a 1-0 win in the series opener on Monday, the Diamondbacks had just one run on Tuesday until coming up with three in the top of the ninth inning.
Prior to the Tuesday game, the Diamondbacks traded outfielder Alek Thomas to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a minor league prospect. Thomas was a defensive standout who struggled at the plate this season, however he provided key contributions in the team’s run to the 2023 World Series.
“We’ve got a lot of talented players, lot of talented hitters. I feel like things are going to come around,” outfielder Corbin Carroll told the Arizona Republic. “It’s having trust in each other to swing at the right pitches and take our chances early, and then be really good two-strike hitters and be a tough out.”
After several consecutive games of quality starting pitching for the Diamondbacks, right-hander Zac Gallen struggled on Tuesday against the Rangers.
Right-handers will square off on Wednesday as Ryne Nelson (1-3, 5.68 ERA) takes the mound for Arizona against Kumar Rocker (1-4, 5.01) for Texas.
Nelson turned in his second straight strong outing but has a 0-1 record to show for it. He allowed one run on four hits in 5 2/3 innings of 2-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs on May 2 before yielding one run on two hits of a no-decision versus the New York Mets on Friday.
Nelson, 28, is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in three career appearances (all starts) versus Texas.
Rocker, 26, lost his third consecutive start after permitting three runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 7-1 setback to the Cubs on Friday.
He has yet to face the Diamondbacks in his career.
–Field Level Media
