Two clubs trying to hold onto first place in their respective divisions open the second half on Friday when the Texas Rangers visit the Atlanta Braves to start a three-game series.
The Rangers are in first place in the American League West, sitting 1 1/2 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners. The Braves lead the National League East by two games over the Philadelphia Phillies and four games over the surprising Miami Marlins.
The starting pitchers for the series opener are expected to be Atlanta left-hander Chris Sale (9-6, 2.20 ERA) vs. Texas right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (9-7, 4.04).
Sale was selected to the All-Star roster but did not pitch. He last worked on Saturday in St. Louis when he threw 43 pitches in three scoreless innings before rain delayed the game for more than two hours.
“It is frustrating,” Sale said after the rain-shortened effort. “I’m a starting pitcher. I don’t get to play a whole lot. I like to be able to get a full slate when we can. It is what it is. There’s nothing you can do about it.”
Sale has had a long history of success in his career against the Rangers, going 9-2 with a 2.53 ERA in 17 appearances (13 starts). He did not face Texas last year.
Eovaldi has won four straight decisions. In his last start against the Los Angeles Angels on July 9, he pitched six innings and allowed four runs (three earned) with a season-high 10 strikeouts in a no-decision. He has fanned at least nine in his last four starts.
“It’s unfortunate he didn’t get the win there, the way he pitched,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. “He told me before the game, ‘You’re not taking me out tonight.’ So I figured he was going to go the distance. He was really, really good.”
Eovaldi has made 18 career starts against Atlanta, going 4-4 with a 2.86 ERA. He beat the Braves last year after throwing five scoreless innings.
One of the hottest hitters for Texas has been left fielder Wyatt Langford, who has hit safely in a season-high eight straight games (11-for-34, .324) and reached base in 14 straight games. He has homered in three of his last seven games and has nine for the season.
Atlanta’s biggest offensive surprise has been shortstop/outfielder Mauricio Dubon.
Despite going 1-for-13 in the three-game series against St. Louis prior to the break, Dubon has hit safely in 28 of the last 34 games (39-for-134, .291) with seven homers and 22 RBIs. He has already matched his career high of 10 homers and established career highs for RBIs (51) and walks (25).
The Rangers are awaiting the return of shortstop Corey Seager, out since July 1 with back inflammation, and starter Jacob deGrom, whose mild left glute strain limited him to five innings in his last start on July 7 and could send him to the injured list.
The Braves are awaiting word on the return of outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (out since June 10 with left hamstring strain), shortstop Ha-Seong Kim (right middle finger inflammation) and left-hander Martin Perez (left forearm contusion). Outfielder Mike Yastrzemski went on the injured list July 11 with left elbow inflammation.
The Rangers swept last year’s three-game series in Arlington. Atlanta had taken two of three in 2023 and 2024.
–Field Level Media
