The Texas Rangers have won three in a row and 10 of their past 14 games to remain within striking distance in the American League West.
The Rangers will aim to keep the heat on Wednesday when they host the reeling Chicago White Sox in the third contest of their four-game series in Arlington, Texas.
Jon Gray allowed one run on four hits and retired the final 15 batters he faced in 7 2/3 innings during the Rangers’ 3-2 victory over the White Sox on Tuesday.
After a slow start to the season, the reigning World Series champion Rangers seem to be starting to gain confidence.
“I think things are turning around for us,” Gray told Bally Sports Southwest. “I think we’re going to end up being a better team down the road for sure. Anything can happen, but our guys are staying positive.”
Josh Smith stayed positive after going 0-for-14 in his first four games following the All-Star break. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored on a double-steal on Tuesday.
Marcus Semien also had two hits and Adolis Garcia added an RBI single for Texas.
The White Sox, in turn, have lost nine in a row and 15 of their past 18 games.
Although some members of the team are keeping tabs on the trade deadline, pitcher Garrett Crochet — reportedly the subject of trade talks — said what happens is out of everyone’s control.
“Right now, we’re fighting as a team while we still are one,” he told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Who knows what’s gonna happen. We may all still be here in a week and it’s gonna seem like we have this conversation for no reason. But until then, let’s just wait and see.”
Andrew Benintendi went 0-for-16 in the first four-plus games following the All-Star break before belting a solo homer in the ninth inning on Tuesday.
Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi (6-4, 3.36 ERA) will look to rebound from a difficult outing when he faces fellow right-hander Chris Flexen (2-9, 5.22) on Wednesday.
Eovaldi worked seven strong innings in each of his previous three starts before being gouged for a season-high six runs on eight hits — including three homers — in five innings of a 9-1 shellacking by the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.
Eovaldi entered the game 5-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his first 10 starts at home this season.
“I hung some curveballs, the splitters were up a little bit, fastball command … I just felt like I didn’t really execute a lot of my pitches very well (against the Orioles),” Eovaldi said.
Eovaldi, 34, is 2-2 with a 5.67 ERA in six career appearances (five starts) against the White Sox.
Flexen, 30, saw his nightmare season continue on Friday after permitting seven runs on four hits with five walks in 4 2/3 innings of a 7-1 setback to the Kansas City Royals. He is 0-6 since last posting a win on May 8.
“Obviously fell apart at the end,” Flexen said. “Kind of lost the feel there. The walks are inexcusable.”
Flexen has fared well in his career versus Texas, going 6-0 with a 3.14 ERA in 12 career appearances (seven starts).
