About that opener: Corey Seager came off the IL Friday and immediately ended an 0-for-29 slump with the go-ahead homer in a 3-2 Texas win. Kyle Higashioka also went deep. Travis Bazzana led off the game with the first leadoff bomb of his career and finished with three hits for Cleveland, which is to say the Guardians did plenty offensively and still lost. That's the season in a nutshell.
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez (RP) — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.05/08
- 15-Day-ILErik Sabrowski (RP) — Sabrowski (elbow) underwent an MRI on Tuesday which confirmed inflammation but no structural damage, MLB.com reports.05/27
- 60-Day-ILGabriel Arias (SS) — no06/06
- 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.04/07
- 10-Day-ILJosh Smith (2B) — Smith (glute/wrist/illness) took live batting practice Wednesday, MLB.com reports.06/04
- 15-Day-ILCole Winn (RP) — Winn (arm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.06/05
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin (RP) — The Rangers placed Martin on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right shoulder impingement.06/01
- OutDeclan Cronin (RP) — Cronin (elbow) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.05/08
- OutNabil Crismatt (SP) — Crismatt will undergo surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILJordan Montgomery (SP) — Montgomery (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.06/04
- 60-Day-ILRobert Garcia (RP) — The Rangers transferred Garcia (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.06/01
- 60-Day-ILCarter Baumler (RP) — Baumler (intercostal) has been shut down from his rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.05/23
- 60-Day-ILCody Bradford (SP) — Bradford (elbow) began throwing from 60 feet during the Rangers' most recent homestand, MLB.com reports05/10
Texas is still without Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bradford, and a chunk of the bullpen (Chris Martin, Robert Garcia), so any length Leiter gives them matters. Cleveland is the healthier side outside of Gabriel Arias at short, and they enter at 36-29 against a Rangers club still scraping above water at 31-32 after the Cardinals took 2 of 3 last weekend.
Pinnacle has Texas at -113 with the total sitting on 8.5. That feels about right — Leiter's stuff plays, Bibee's process plays, and the bullpens have been the bigger swing factor in this matchup than either starter. If the Guardians want to flip the series, Bibee finally pitching with a lead would be a nice change of pace.