First pitch at Globe Life Field is 1:35 PM CT for the series capper. The Padres come in at 38-35, the Rangers at 35-38, and the gap in vibes is bigger than the three games in the standings would suggest. Probable starters are still being sorted with the matinee turnaround, but the pitching card below has the latest on who's actually toeing the rubber.
The bigger story is what each team is dragging into Sunday. Texas just got steamrolled 12-2 at home by the Twins on Tuesday and has dropped 4 of its last 5. San Diego, meanwhile, took a series in St. Louis after sweeping into Baltimore and looks like the more functional roster right now — even with a depleted rotation and a bullpen that's running short-handed.
Corey Seager being on the 7-day concussion IL is the headliner for Texas, and it's not a vacuum injury. He was hitting .193 with a career-worst 0-for-29 skid earlier this stretch, so the lineup was already searching before he went down. Add Evan Carter (oblique) and Michael Helman (hand) to the IL and the Rangers are running an outfield and middle infield held together with duct tape.
San Diego's not exactly whole either — Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Nick Pivetta and German Marquez are all out, Jake Cronenworth is still in concussion protocol, and Ron Marinaccio just got a 3-game suspension for plunking Gunnar Henderson. But the lineup is rolling, Manny Machado has started carrying his weight again, and the back end of the bullpen is intact with Mason Miller available after locking down a save in Baltimore last weekend.
- 7-day ilFreddy Fermin C — The Padres placed Fermin (concussion) on the 7-day injured list Sunday.
- 7-Day ILJake Cronenworth 2B — Cronenworth (concussion) has been participating in light baseball activities and is "ramping up," per MLB.com.
- 10-Day-ILLuis Campusano C — Campusano (toe) continues to rehab in Arizona but hasn't yet been scheduled for a minor-league rehab assignment, per MLB.com.
- 10-Day-ILMiguel Andujar DH — Andujar (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.
- suspensionRon Marinaccio RP — Marinaccio was suspended three games by Major League Baseball for intentionally hitting Gunnar Henderson with a pitch during Saturday's game versus the Orioles, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
- bereavementMason Miller RP — Miller secured the save Sunday against the Orioles, throwing 1.1 clean innings. He struck out three.
- 15-Day-ILMatt Waldron SP — Waldron (forearm) made his first rehab appearance with Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings.
- 15-Day-ILGerman Marquez SP — Marquez (forearm) tossed four scoreless innings for Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, allowing one hit and issuing one walk while striking out two batters.
- Day-To-DaySebastian Walcott SS — Walcott (elbow) will begin to ramp up his activity soon and is still on track for a late-July or early-August return to a minor-league affiliate, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
- 7-Day ILCorey Seager SS — The Rangers placed Seager on the 7-day concussion injured list Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 10-Day-ILMichael Helman CF — The Rangers placed Helman (hand) on the 10-day injured list Sunday.
- 10-Day-ILEvan Carter CF — The Rangers placed Carter (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Saturday.
- 10-Day-ILDanny Jansen C — Jansen is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Guardians on Friday.
- 15-Day-ILJalen Beeks RP — Beeks (2-1) earned the win in relief Saturday against the Cubs after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings. He struck out one with no hits or walks allowed.
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin RP — The Rangers placed Martin on the 15-day injured list Monday with a right shoulder impingement.
- 60-Day-ILJordan Montgomery SP — Montgomery (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
This is the kind of Sunday spot where the Padres should be the heavier side. Texas is reeling, the offense without Seager has looked anemic against decent stuff, and San Diego has had the better arms even with the rotation gutted. The Rangers' counter is that they're at home, the bats can't possibly stay this cold forever, and one Wyatt Langford or Marcus Semien game can flip a 1:35 PM CT matinee in a hurry.