The Diamondbacks roll into Globe Life Field at 20-20 having won 3 of their last 5, while the Rangers sit a game under at 19-22 after dropping their most recent. Neither team is hot, neither team is buried, and the matchup on the mound isn't exactly inspiring confidence either.
Zac Gallen takes the ball with a 4.70 ERA and a 1-3 record, and the underlying story isn't pretty. Batters are hitting .302 against him this season, and his last time out the Cubs jumped him for 3 in the first and chased him in the 4th — snapping a stretch where he'd at least limited the damage to 3 runs or fewer in 5 straight. MacKenzie Gore counters at 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA, and he's been worse lately: 3-plus earned runs in 4 straight, including a 5-run, 5.1-inning night against the Yankees on May 7.
The injury sheets are doing nobody any favors. Arizona is still without Corbin Burnes, A.J. Puk, and Carlos Santana, who just suffered a setback on his rehab. Texas is sweating Nathan Eovaldi day-to-day with a side issue, and Wyatt Langford and Josh Smith are both still on the shelf. This is two banged-up rosters trying to keep their heads above water.
- Day-To-DayKyle Amendt RP — Amendt was invited to major-league spring training by the Diamondbacks, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
- 10-Day-ILCarlos Santana 1B — Santana suffered a setback with his right adductor strain Sunday while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
- 60-Day-ILJordan Lawlar LF — Lawlar will undergo imaging this week to determine how his broken right wrist is healing, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
- 60-Day-ILJustin Martinez RP — Martinez (elbow) tossed a bullpen session Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
- 60-Day-ILCorbin Burnes SP — Burnes (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic reports.
- 60-Day-ILCristian Mena RP — The Diamondbacks placed Mena (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
- 60-Day-ILBlake Walston SP — Arizona placed Walston (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
- 60-Day-ILAndrew Saalfrank RP — Saalfrank (shoulder) said Wednesday that he expects to be sidelined 10-16 months, Arizona Sports reports.
- Day-To-DayNathan Eovaldi SP — Eovaldi (side) is being considered day-to-day, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
- Day-To-DaySebastian Walcott SS — Rangers GM Ross Fenstermaker said Tuesday that Walcott could be ready for game action in August, "if all things according to plan" in his rehab from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 10-Day-ILJosh Smith 2B — Smith (lower body) is dealing with a wrist injury that will delay his rehab program, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILCody Freeman 3B — Freeman (back) has resumed baseball activities, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.
- 10-Day-ILWyatt Langford LF — Langford (forearm) rejoined the Rangers in Detroit on Saturday and will rest for a full week before being reevaluated by the team, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 15-Day-ILCarter Baumler RP — Baumler (intercostal) has been shut down from his rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin RP — Martin (biceps) will throw live batting practice Saturday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILRobert Garcia RP — Garcia (shoulder) began throwing from 80 feet out Friday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.
The market sees a close one. Pinnacle has the Rangers at -129 on the moneyline with a fair win probability right around 55%, and the total is parked at 8 on both books. DraftKings is dragging Texas down to -115, which means the public side is on the home dog-flavored favorite — 63% of the bets are on the Rangers ML even though the handle is more split. Neither side carries a positive EV here, so this is a watch-not-bet spot unless you have a strong read.
If you're looking for a thread to pull, it's this: both starters have shown they can give up a crooked number early, and both bullpens are short-handed. An 8 feels gettable if either Gallen or Gore gets touched up the way they have been. Whoever's offense lands the first punch probably wins this thing.