MacKenzie Gore (5-6, 4.05 ERA) draws the assignment for Texas in Wednesday's 1:10 PM ET series finale, squaring off against Joey Cantillo (6-3, 3.87 ERA) in a matchup that figures to be tighter than the first 2 games. Gore bounced back solidly in his last start, going 7 innings and scattering 4 hits against Toronto for the win. Cantillo's last outing was even cleaner — 6 innings, 1 earned run, 9 strikeouts against Seattle — and he walked away without a decision only because his bullpen couldn't hold it.
The Rangers have already taken both games of this series — 6-3 Monday and 4-2 Tuesday behind Jacob deGrom's 9-strikeout gem — and are doing it without their 3 most important outfield and shortstop pieces. Corey Seager (back, day-to-day) and Brandon Nimmo (shoulder, day-to-day) are both out of the lineup again Wednesday, and Wyatt Langford is shelved through the All-Star break. This is a Texas squad winning ugly, piecing together runs with contributors like Justin Foscue and a bullpen that has been nearly airtight. Jacob Latz owns 17 saves and counting.
Cleveland's deeper problem is José Ramírez. The Guardians' best hitter had hamate surgery on June 16 and is expected out 5 to 7 weeks. In the time since he went down, Cleveland has gone 5-8 and hit just .210 as a team. Tuesday illustrated the issue perfectly — the Guardians scored twice, once on a first-inning Kyle Manzardo homer — but never generated enough sustained offense to threaten a deGrom who gave them nothing to work with. Cantillo gives Cleveland a real chance to end this today, but the lineup behind him is thinner than it looks.
- Day-To-DayCorey Seager SS — Seager is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians.
- Day-To-DayBrandon Nimmo RF — Nimmo (shoulder) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Guardians.
- 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.
- 10-Day-ILWyatt Langford LF — Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Sunday that Langford (hamstring) will remain on the 10-day injured list through the All-Star break, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILCody Freeman 3B — The Rangers placed Freeman on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a herniated disc.
- 10-Day-ILDanny Jansen C — Jansen (forearm) was able to throw out to 60 feet Saturday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin RP — Martin (shoulder) was sent to Double-A Frisco on Sunday to begin a rehab assignment.
- 15-Day-ILJack Leiter SP — Leiter underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body from his right ankle region Tuesday and should be considered out indefinitely, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayTanner Burns SP — no
- Day-To-DayCarlos Hernandez RP — Hernandez (shoulder) began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday.
- 10-Day-ILAngel Martinez LF — Martinez (foot) has shed his walking boot, is playing catch and hitting off a batting tee, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJose Ramirez 3B — Ramirez underwent surgery to address the hamate bone fracture in his left hand Tuesday and is expected to be sidelined 5-to-7 weeks, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.
This series finale has legitimate pitching duel written all over it. Cantillo has the stuff to slow down a Rangers lineup that has been missing key pieces all week, and Gore has been sharp enough lately to hold a Cleveland offense running on fumes without Ramírez. Whether the Guardians can string together enough contact against a Texas bullpen that has been automatic all week is the real question. Cantillo is Cleveland's best answer — but they need to back him up.