If the immediate past is a precedent, runs will be at a premium when the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays square off in the second of a three-game series Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.
The Rangers will send right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (4-3, 1.60 ERA) to the mound while the visitors will counter with right-hander Bowden Francis (2-6, 5.54 ERA).
The Blue Jays beat Texas 2-1 in the series opener on Monday as Kevin Gausman outdueled Rangers ace Jacob deGrom, allowing only a solo homer while scattering five hits over eight innings. Toronto’s two runs doubled its output over its previous three games and were enough to snap a three-game losing streak.
Texas has dropped seven of its past eight games and has also been searching for answers on offense, scoring one run or fewer in 14 of its 29 losses this season.
The Rangers will get a boost in their attack when shortstop Corey Seager is activated from the injured list, perhaps as early as Tuesday. Seager has been nursing a hamstring strain but participated in a simulated game on Monday and came out none the worse for wear.
“We tried to simulate what a game would feel like, where he would stand around or wait a while before he could go back and hit,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said about Seager. “I see Corey being activated this week.”
Eovaldi — 2-1 in four starts in May — has dropped his ERA from 2.11 at the beginning of the month by allowing just two runs in 24 2/3 innings. In his most recent appearance last Thursday, he was the hard-luck loser, giving up one run on five hits with one walk over six innings in a game the Rangers dropped 1-0 to the host New York Yankees.
He struck out six in that game and carries a 71-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his 11 starts in 2025, good enough to be the ace on any staff. But on the Rangers, Eovaldi is likely 1B to deGrom.
Eovaldi has 14 career appearances (13 of them starts) against the Blue Jays, with a 1-3 record and 5.78 ERA in 71 2/3 innings. Eovaldi has not posted a win over Toronto since 2016 when he pitched for the Yankees.
Francis is winless in his past six starts dating back to April 18 and has gone 0-2 in his four appearances in May. In his most recent start, he allowed two runs on three hits over four innings in a 7-6, 11-inning Toronto win over visiting San Diego. He walked three and struck out four in his second-shortest stint of the season.
Francis holds the MLB lead in a dubious statistic: He has allowed 15 home runs over his 10 starts.
“With Bowden, it just comes down to his fastball command,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “When he’s on, he’s locating his fastball, and the other stuff plays. That’s the major contributing factor — just fastball location.”
Francis points to a gap between his stuff, which can be electric, and his execution.
“One focal point has been working on my count leverage, working on getting ahead,” he said. “Staying in my lanes with the pitches (is also important). I’m learning. Still growing.”
Francis has faced the Rangers five times in his career, with four of those in relief. He lost his only decision to Texas and has allowed three runs over 13 innings (2.08 ERA) while striking out 11 and walking seven.
–Field Level Media
