Expect the ball to be in play, and likely hit on the ground, when the Texas Rangers host the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday in the finale of a three-game American League West set in Arlington, Texas.
Los Angeles will start Jack Kochanowicz (1-1, 5.74 ERA) while the Rangers will counter with fellow right-hander Kumar Rocker (0-2, 7.94). Both players pitch to contact, looking for quick innings created by ground balls instead of going for strikeouts.
The Rangers captured the first two games of the series and used dominant pitching and timely hits from Corey Seager and Jake Burger to beat Los Angeles 3-1 on Wednesday. Seager had three hits and two RBIs, and Burger added three hits and an RBI to back a solid start from Patrick Corbin (5 1/3 innings, one run, five hits).
Three Texas relievers combined to give up one hit over 3 2/3 shutout innings, with Luke Jackson needing just six pitches to get the final three outs and earn his sixth save of the season.
The Rangers outhit Los Angeles 11-6.
The Angels dropped their third straight game and second consecutive series after winning their first four sets of the season.
Los Angeles needs Kochanowicz to be the stopper and get the team back on track. He is 0-2 in two career appearances (both starts) against the Rangers with a 4.15 ERA and has allowed 14 hits in 13 innings against them. His latest trip to the mound was on Friday, when he gave up six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in a 14-3 loss to the Houston Astros.
Kochanowicz uses his potent sinker to entice batters into hitting the ball on the ground. He has just nine strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings over three starts this season.
“I’m definitely not valuing the strikeout too much,” Kochanowicz said. “I know what my strength is, so I’m just playing to that right now. If things evolve, things evolve. But I’m really not worried about it right now.”
Rocker will make his first appearance against the Angels. His most recent outing was a 3 1/3-inning stint in Seattle on Saturday in which he surrendered four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks in a 9-2 loss.
After retiring the side in order in the first inning, Rocker allowed eight of the ensuing 14 hitters to reach base before being lifted with one out into the fourth.
“When (Rocker) was going to the fastball — that’s where he gave up his hits — because he got behind in the count,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said of Rocker’s start. “In predictable fastball counts he was throwing fastballs. That usually doesn’t work out too well when you have to do it consistently.”
Rocker has even fewer strikeouts than Kochanowicz — just six in 11 1/3 innings over three starts.
At 11-7, Texas is tied with the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League.
–Field Level Media
