The Texas Rangers will look to build on a stirring comeback victory when they square off with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday in the middle contest of a three-game interleague series in Arlington, Texas.
It will be a battle of right-handers as Arizona will send veteran Anthony DeSclafani (1-2, 4.20 ERA) to the mound and Texas will counter with rookie Jack Leiter (7-6, 4.05).
The Rangers recorded a 7-6 win in 10 innings in the series opener on Monday on pinch-hitter Jake Burger’s walk-off single.
Rowdy Tellez belted a solo home run in the ninth inning to forge a tie for Texas, which pounded out 11 hits en route to halting a four-game losing skid.
Leiter will have to be better than he has been over his first two starts in August. He totaled only 7 2/3 innings in a pair of no-decisions, allowing four combined runs (one unearned) while struggling with his command. He’s walked seven batters in the two games this month.
Still, Leiter has not lost a game since July 6 in San Diego, with three wins and two no-decisions since that setback. He only lasted 3 1/3 innings in his most recent outing, allowing one earned run on three hits and four walks in a game the Rangers lost 3-2 to the New York Yankees.
“You compete with what you have that day, and that’s kind of your only choice,” Leiter said after the truncated appearance against New York. “That was kind of clear to me early in the game. I would’ve loved to make them have to beat me instead of beating myself. It just comes down to I’ve got to be better. I’ll figure out what was out of sync.”
Leiter has yet to face the Diamondbacks in his career.
DeSclafani will be making his 11th appearance of the season but just his fourth start, with two of those coming in his past two games.
His most recent appearance came on Wednesday when he pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings at home against San Diego, allowing just three hits and striking four but not getting a decision in a contest the Diamondbacks dropped lost 3-2.
DeSclafani was with the Yankees Triple-A team in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre until June 12 until he opted out of his contract. He was signed to a major-league deal by Arizona on June 15, with his first four appearances with the team coming in middle relief.
“I’m grateful to be back in the big leagues,” DeSclafani said. “Starting is something I’ve done my whole career and it took a little bit of an adjustment to come out of the bullpen, but I’m here to help the team however I can. There’s no doubt that I’m looking forward to being in more of a starter routine.”
DeSclafani has faced the Rangers just once in his 190-game MLB career. That game came in 2016 when he pitched for the Cincinnati Reds. He produced a win after he allowed two runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings while striking out six.
–Field Level Media
