The Texas Rangers have had to turn to their bullpen more often than they would have liked in the first two contests of their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Arlington, Texas.
After pulling starter Kumar Rocker in the fifth inning of Friday’s 7-1 win, Texas manager Skip Schumaker was forced to go to his bullpen with one out in the second on Saturday after starter Cal Quantrill exited the game with right lat tightness. Jordan Montgomery stepped in and held Toronto hitless over 3 2/3 innings in a 6-2 victory.
Schumaker hopes to give his relievers a breather when Jacob deGrom takes the mound in the finale against the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon.
“That’s what this team is all about right now,” Schumaker said. “… Monty was fantastic. But again, these are team wins, and it’s also because of what happened the day before, really covering us today.”
The veteran deGrom (11-9, 3.79 ERA) has been strong at home this season. The right-hander has a 2.53 ERA with 111 strikeouts in 85 1/3 innings over 15 starts at Globe Life Field. He’s coming off an outing in which he allowed just two runs on three hits in five innings against the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 15.
He has only made three starts against the Blue Jays in his career, going 1-1 with a 1.65 ERA.
The Rangers (78-77) are eyeing a third straight win and a seventh in eight games. Saturday’s victory combined with the Houston Astros’ loss to the Atlanta Braves, propelled Texas into sole possession of first place in the American League West.
“We’re just here showing up every day to play and try and get in the playoffs,” outfielder Wyatt Langford said. “To be in that position right now is great. But yeah, there are still a lot of games left. We need to keep it that way.”
While the playoff picture is looking up for Texas, the hopes continue to fade for Toronto (76-79), which has dropped four of its past five. The loss dropped the Blue Jays to three games behind the final wild card in the AL, currently held by the Chicago White Sox, with seven games remaining in the season.
Toronto trailed 3-0 after two innings. The Blue Jays didn’t get their first baserunner until Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked in the fourth inning, and didn’t get their first hit until the sixth.
But pitching struggles in the bottom of the sixth allowed the Rangers to tack on three more runs.
“It feels like the last couple games you’re down early, and it makes it a little bit tougher to come back,” manager John Schneider said. “You’re looking for a big swing, a three-run homer or a base hit to score a couple to get back into it. I think falling behind early makes it a little bit tougher.”
Spencer Miles (6-2, 2.65) will get the start in what is expected to be a bullpen game for Toronto on Sunday.
It’ll be the second career appearance against Texas for the 26-year-old righty, who gave up just one hit in 2 2/3 innings of a relief appearance in a no-decision versus the Rangers on June 26.
–Field Level Media
