The Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles generated early-season success, so they can check a few things off their to-do lists ahead of a new week.
They begin a three-game series Monday night in Baltimore.
“The defense and pitching has been incredible and the offense has done the necessary things to win games,” said new Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso.
Both teams opened the season by winning two of three games. The Rangers did it by taking the last two matchups at Philadelphia, while the Orioles accomplished it with victories sandwiched around a loss to the visiting Minnesota Twins.
“For us to come out and get a series win to start the year is just confirmation of what we think our offense is,” Rangers first-year manager Skip Schumaker said. “And our starting pitching has been really good as well. A lot has been thrown at them.”
Baltimore scored three total runs in its first two games before Sunday’s 8-6 victory.
“It was just a matter of time,” outfielder Tyler O’Neill said of getting the offense rolling. “Our lineup is so deep. A lot of trust in ourselves.”
O’Neill hit a three-run shot Sunday for the team’s first long ball of the season.
Texas also thrived offensively Sunday in an 8-3 triumph in Philadelphia, including outfielder Brandon Nimmo’s first homer with the team.
Baltimore will send right-hander Chris Bassitt (11-9, 3.96 ERA in 2025 with Toronto) to the hill. It will mark the second straight day that the Orioles starter makes his team debut, following Shane Baz’s outing Sunday.
Bassitt, 37, won at least 10 games in six of the last seven seasons, with the exception of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Bassitt has pitched in more games (17) against the Rangers than any other opponent, posting a 5-3 record and 3.77 ERA in 17 appearances (13 starts).
The Rangers will start right-hander Jack Leiter (10-10, 3.86 ERA in 2025). In parts of two previous seasons, Leiter has never faced the Orioles.
Schumaker said the Rangers’ bullpen was taxed on Sunday, but with starter MacKenzie Gore working into the sixth inning, that might alleviate some pressure going into Baltimore.
It will mark the second straight series for the Rangers when they will face a team with a first-year manager. Baltimore skipper Craig Albernaz is in his first season.
The Orioles will be looking to get star shortstop Gunnar Henderson going. He notched his first hit Sunday with a single, but he’s 1-for-12 overall. Albernaz said Henderson has the right temperament.
“I want that fire. You get that emotion,” Albernaz said. “He just wants to come through to get that big hit.”
Texas third baseman Josh Jung is 0-for-12, so he’ll be looking to get cranked up.
In the meantime, veteran outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen, 39, has at least one hit in each game in his first season with Texas, including a home run Sunday.
“Just absolutely unbelievable,” Nimmo said. “I think he came in with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder with the way this offseason went. … He’s playing with so much fire.”
–Field Level Media
