Series Thread: Rangers Host the Astros for Three Games September 4-6

[saddles]

Let the show down begin. Let's see what this team is made of.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/max-scherzer-nathan-eovaldi-texas-rangers-rotation-houston-astros-series-preview

 

[fanman8825]

Rangers have to get 2 out of 3 In this series. If don’t have Max Wed then we prob lose the series. I would be shocked to even see Nate

 

[saddles]

 

[scotsman#1948]

and still no Duran

 

[fanman8825]

and still no Duran

Gotta go thru another day of watching an abysmal Smith

 

[saddles]

 

[scotsman#1948]

Gotta go thru another day of watching an abysmal Smith

a few months ago there were those on here that wanted both Duran and Smith in the lineup as much as possible

 

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[saddles]

From Evan Grant:

Duran sits: Ezequiel Duran was out of the lineup for the second straight game against a right-hander. Duran, a right-handed hitter, is just 6 for 30 (.200) against right-handers since the start of the Rangers’ nine-game road trip with all but one hit being a single. He has struck out nine times in that stretch. Josh Smith got his second straight start at third.

Bochy said Duran would return to the lineup on Tuesday against lefty Framber Valdez.

“I want to give him a couple of days,” Bochy said. “He just hasn’t been quite the same guy lately.”

 

[saddles]

From Evan Grant:

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is still uncertain whether Nathan Eovaldi will start Tuesday’s game against Houston, which would be his first start in more than a month.

With a limited bullpen available to him for Monday, Bochy will wait to see what he might have as potential backup since Eovaldi would be on a limited pitch count. Bochy did say Max Scherzer, who exited his last start early, will return to the rotation for Wednesday’s series finale. The Astros are listing Justin Verlander, Scherzer’s early-season rotation mate in New York, as the starter for Wednesday’s game.

 

[saddles]

From Evan Grant:

If Andrew Heaney can navigate himself deep into Monday’s start, Bochy could use Josh Sborz, Glenn Otto and Martín Pérez. But he’d probably also like to have Pérez or Bradford, both lefties, available to piggyback with Eovaldi on Tuesday to force Dusty Baker’s hand on lineup matchups. If Eovaldi is activated, it likely means optioning Otto back to Triple-A, so if the Rangers need multiple innings today, Otto would likely be asked to soak them up.

 

[saddles]

he’d probably also like to have Pérez or Bradford, both lefties, available to piggyback with Eovaldi

I have read on here where someone claimed this would make Eovaldi an Opener.

 

[fanman8825]

a few months ago there were those on here that wanted both Duran and Smith in the lineup as much as possible

Honestly I was rooting hard for Smith. I followed his story of traveling thru the minor leagues with his wife. He seems like a great kid. He is also tough coming back soon after getting hit in the face back in April. You want a guy like this to succeed but he just can’t big league pitching
I

 

[Kelleyman]

From Evan Grant:

If Andrew Heaney can navigate himself deep into Monday’s start, Bochy could use Josh Sborz, Glenn Otto and Martín Pérez. But he’d probably also like to have Pérez or Bradford, both lefties, available to piggyback with Eovaldi on Tuesday to force Dusty Baker’s hand on lineup matchups. If Eovaldi is activated, it likely means optioning Otto back to Triple-A, so if the Rangers need multiple innings today, Otto would likely be asked to soak them up.

Definitely need RHP in relief. Maybe. Otto can be it done. Do they activate Bush I wonder?

 

[Kelleyman]

Dane Dunning is available out of the pen for today's game per Bruce Bochy.

@1053thefan #Rangers RN

Wow. He may be the pen guy

 

[scotsman1948]

Definitely need RHP in relief. Maybe. Otto can be it done. Do they activate Bush I wonder?

Have to add Bush to the 40

 

[saddles]

Dane Dunning is available out of the pen for today's game per Bruce Bochy.

@1053thefan #Rangers RN

Wow. He may be the pen guy

I knew Bochy would favor keeping the veteran, Heaney, over Dunning. This team will never trust a young pitcher over a veteran unless it is a high draft pick, and maybe not even then.

 

[saddles]

I knew Bochy would favor keeping the veteran, Heaney, over Dunning. This team will never trust a young pitcher over a veteran unless it is a high draft pick, and maybe not even then.

That's why we don't have Ragans. That's why Otto, Dunning, and Bradford will all be in the pen in 2024. Maybe Zak Kent, as well.

The same thing happened to Burke. One day it will be Acker and Bratt.