The Texas Rangers are hanging around in the race for a wild-card spot in the American League.
They will look to stay in that mode when they clash with the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday evening in the finale of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.
The Angels will send right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (3-10, 6.19 ERA) to the mound to start Wednesday’s game against Rangers left-hander Jacob Latz (1-0, 3.05).
Texas jumped on Los Angeles starter Yusei Kikuchi for five early runs on its way to a 7-3 win on Tuesday that evened the series.
Michael Helman hit a two-run homer in the second inning, and Kyle Higashioka and Corey Seager also went deep in the game to back Patrick Corbin’s season-high eight scoreless innings. The Rangers reside 4 1/2 games behind the Seattle Mariners in the chase for the AL’s final wild-card spot.
Kochanowicz is being summoned from Triple-A Salt Lake after being demoted earlier this month on the heels of surrendering 12 runs (11 earned) in nine innings over his last two outings. He allowed seven runs (six earned) on nine hits in three innings in 9-5 setback against the Detroit Tigers on Aug. 10 to fall to 0-5 during his 13-start winless drought.
Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery recently explained that perhaps the dimmer spotlight in the minors might be beneficial for Kochanowicz.
“The biggest thing is when you’re searching for confidence, you have to have a little bit of gains and some successes that give you more of that,” Montgomery said. “I think taking the pressure off, going there and having the opportunity to stretch out, get to some secondary stuff and work on some of those things, will be a big help.”
Kochanowicz is 0-2 with a bloated 9.00 ERA in three appearances vs. the Rangers this season. He is 0-4 with a 6.48 ERA in five career encounters (all starts) against them.
Latz, meanwhile, allowed just one hit over 3 1/3 scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Kansas City Royals last Wednesday. He was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock prior to the game, which Texas won 6-3.
Latz has a 1.35 ERA without a decision in three career relief appearances against the Angels.
The spot in the Rangers’ rotation was supposed to be occupied by right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. But the Rangers announced before Tuesday’s game that Eovaldi likely will miss the remainder of the season with a strained right rotator cuff.
“I’m very disappointed,” Eovaldi, 35, said of the injury. “It was just kind of surprising to see the results of the MRI. It’s just frustrating how the season has been going, how we’ve been throwing the ball lately and trying to pick back up and make a good run. I don’t want to rule out the rest of the season, but it’s not looking very great.”
Eovaldi is 11-3 this season, with an MLB-low 1.73 ERA in 22 starts, which is not enough to qualify for the top spot at year’s end.