Texas grabbed a 6-1 win on Wednesday to even things up, and now they get the early bell on Thursday at 11:35 local. The Yankees come in 25-12 and have won 5 of 6, but this is not the rotation they drew up. Ryan Weathers was scratched from his scheduled start due to illness, which slides Paul Blackburn into the spot.
Blackburn has been steady in a swing role — 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA — but he's a contact arm being asked to navigate a Rangers lineup that just put up 6 in the Bronx. The good news for the Yankees is that the lineup behind him still has Aaron Judge mashing at a .273/.407/.659 clip with 15 homers, which papers over a lot.
MacKenzie Gore is the more talented arm on paper, but the early-season story is the same one Padres fans got used to: strikeouts piling up, walks piling up right behind them. He punched out 7 in 5 innings against the A's last time out and still labored through 35 pitches in a single inning. Against a Yankees lineup that grinds counts, free passes are the quickest way to a short outing.
- 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 is out of the lineup for Friday's game versus the Tigers.
- 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.
- 10-Day-ILCody Freeman 3B — Freeman (back) has resumed baseball activities, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin RP — Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Friday that Martin (biceps) "took the next step" in his recovery and will throw a bullpen soon, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
- 15-Day-ILCarter Baumler RP — Baumler (intercostal) allowed one run on two hits over one inning in a rehab appearance at Triple-A Round Rock last Wednesday.
- 15-Day-ILRobert Garcia RP — The Rangers placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left shoulder inflammation.
- 15-Day-ILLuis Curvelo RP — The Rangers placed Curvelo on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right shoulder impingement, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayRyan Weathers SP — Weathers was scratched from his scheduled start for Thursday's game against the Rangers due to an illness he suffered earlier in the week, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayBen Rice 1B — Rice (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.
- Day-To-DayBen Hess SP — Double-A Somerset placed Hess on its 7-day injured list April 18 due to an unspecified injury.
- Day-To-DayTravis MacGregor SP — MacGregor signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Monday.
- 10-Day-ILGiancarlo Stanton DH — Stanton (calf) has not been cleared to resume running, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
- 15-Day-ILGerrit Cole SP — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Cole (elbow) is expected to need a "couple more" rehab starts before being activated from the 15-day injured list, David Lennon of Newsday reports.
- 15-Day-ILCarlos Rodon SP — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Rodon (elbow) is likely on track to return from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut Sunday in Milwaukee, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILAngel Chivilli RP — Manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Chivilli (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for roughly three weeks, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
The injury column is doing real work here. Texas is still without Wyatt Langford and Josh Smith, and the Yankees are missing Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon — though Rodon is reportedly tracking toward a Sunday debut in Milwaukee. Ben Rice was out of Wednesday's lineup with a hand issue, which is worth watching for a first-base group already short on options.
The market has the Yankees at -142 with a total of 8.5, and the public is piled in — 88% of moneyline tickets and 80% of spread tickets are on the home side. The EV numbers don't love any side, but if you squint, the Rangers at +131 with a competent lefty starting and a bullpen day looming for New York is the kind of dog spot that at least makes sense.
Pick: lean Texas plus the runs. Gore can be maddening, but Blackburn is a spot starter and the Yankees pen is being stretched. Either way, getaway day in the Bronx with a 12:35 ET first pitch — set the lineup early.