Rangers at Diamondbacks
The Texas Rangers look to snap a season-high four-game losing streak on Wednesday, when they conclude a brief two-game interleague series against the host Arizona Diamondbacks. Texas carried a two-run lead into the ninth inning on Tuesday before losing 5-4 when closer Jose Leclerc blew his first save by allowing three runs – including a walk-off homer by pinch-hitter Jarrod Dyson.
Nick Ahmed and John Ryan Murphy also went deep for Arizona, which improved to 6-2 over their last eight games versus the Rangers. David Peralta saw his 10-game hitting streak come to an end, but the Diamondbacks received a boost from reliever Matt Andriese, who pitched two scoreless innings en route to his second victory. The Rangers have been hit by the injury bug in their starting rotation and at first base, where Ronald Guzman is expected to miss the next three to four weeks with a hamstring strain. With Guzman out, rookie Patrick Wisdom will share playing time at first with Logan Forsythe, who went 0-for-4 on Tuesday while batting sixth in the order.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, FS Southwest Plus (Texas), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Lance Lynn (0-1, 6.39 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (0-1, 4.35)
Lynn bounced back from a rough season debut against the Chicago Cubs by allowing two runs and five hits over seven innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. The 31-year-old native of Indiana combined to go 10-10 with a 4.77 ERA in 31 games (29 starts) with Minnesota and the New York Yankees last season. Lynn owns a 5-0 record and 2.95 ERA in 11 career games (nine starts) against Arizona and is 3-0 with a 3.67 mark in five starts at Chase Field.
Ray struggled with his control again in last Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to San Diego, allowing two runs on two hits and five walks in 5 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old Tennessean has issued a total of 10 free passes while registering 12 strikeouts over 10 1/3 frames in his first two turns. Hunter Pence is 7-for-16 with seven walks against Ray, who is 1-1 with a 6.06 ERA in three career starts versus Texas.
WALK-OFFS
1. Texas OF Joey Gallo homered in three straight games before going 0-for-4 with a strikeout on Tuesday.
2. Arizona optioned RHP Jon Duplantier to Triple-A Reno after Tuesday’s contest and will promote a position player prior to Wednesday’s contest.
3. Texas 3B Asdrubal Cabrera missed Tuesday’s contest due to personal reasons but is expected to be available for the series finale.