Rangers at Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays will hand the ball to left-hander Brendan McKay for his major-league debut Saturday afternoon when they host the red-hot Texas Rangers for the second of a three-game series. McKay, the fourth overall pick in the 2017 draft and the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline, has dominated in the minor leagues this year and gets a chance against one of the most lethal offenses in the American League.
“Credit to (McKay) for what he’s done, his progress, and what he’s done at Double-A and Triple-A,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told MLB.com. “We’re excited to have him pick up a big spot for us on Saturday, and come in and hopefully do what he‘s continued to do.” McKay will have quite a challenge against the Rangers, who have won a season-high six in a row after their 5-0 victory on Friday night to tie the Rays for the first wild-card spot in the AL at 46-36. Rougned Odor had three hits and an RBI while Ronald Guzman knocked in a pair of runs in the series opener to lead Texas, which is second in the AL in runs scored (452) and first in doubles (171). Adrian Sampson, who gets the start for the Rangers on Saturday, will be facing a Tampa Bay team that finished a 3-7 road trip on Thursday with an 18-inning victory and mustered three hits while striking out 11 times in the series opener.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Adrian Sampson (6-4, 4.14 ERA) vs. Rays LH Brendan McKay (NR)
Sampson has suffered just one loss in his last eight trips to the mound and earned the victory Sunday with seven innings of one-run ball against the Chicago White Sox. The 27-year-old Washington native struggled in his previous two outings while permitting 11 runs on 13 hits - five homers - over eight innings and posting his first loss since May 12. Ji-Man Choi is 2-for-3 with a homer versus Sampson, who gave up two runs over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to Tampa Bay last year.
McKay has yet to lose in 13 games (11 starts) at two levels of the minor leagues this season, going 6-0 with a 1.22 ERA and just three homers allowed across 66 2/3 innings. The 23-year-old Louisville product struck out 62 over 41 2/3 innings at Double-A before fanning 26 across 25 frames with Triple-A Durham. McKay, who also batted .265 at Durham with four homers, 10 RBIs and 10 walks in 15 games, has issued just 15 free passes combined on the mound this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Texas All-Star DH/OF Hunter Pence (groin) ran the bases Friday and could return to the lineup next week.
2. The Rays optioned Jalen Beeks to Durham and activated fellow LHP Jose Alvarado, who was out while attending to a personal issue early in June.
3. Rangers OF Willie Calhoun singled Friday and has reached base in all of his 16 major-league games this year.