The Texas Rangers evened their series at Chase Field with a 6-2 win Saturday night and turn quickly to a Sunday afternoon finale that already carries roster footnotes. Cal Quantrill (8-5, 2.89 ERA) is lined up against Arizona left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (15-5, 2.55), the Associated Press reported via NBC 5, with first pitch set for 3:10 p.m. CT.
Saturday's win restored order after Friday's blowout loss and coincided with the activations of Josh Jung and Nathan Eovaldi. It also left Texas managing a hand scare for Joc Pederson, whose initial X-rays were negative after he was hit by a pitch, CBS Sports reported Sunday morning citing Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.
Pederson's status into a lefty matchup
Pederson was hit on the hand during Saturday's game, stayed in to run the bases, then gave way to a pinch hitter later, according to the CBS/MLB.com report. Negative X-rays were encouraging, but further testing was still planned to determine the full extent of the injury. CBS noted he was unlikely to start Sunday regardless because Rodriguez is a left-hander.
That detail matters for a club that just restored Jung to the lineup from a left calf strain. Jung batted third Saturday, played third base, and went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run, Sports Illustrated reported. Flexibility between third base and designated hitter - a possibility Sports Illustrated raised given the calf history - becomes more relevant if Pederson's hand needs another day.
How Texas got back to .500 in the series
The AP described a six-run fifth as the separator. Wyatt Langford led off with his 17th home run. A review upheld Corey Seager safe at first when Brandon Pfaadt was ruled off the bag, Arizona's challenge came back inconclusive, and Texas scored five more runs after the call, including Ezequiel Duran's two-run single.
Kumar Rocker worked four innings and allowed one run with five strikeouts. Eovaldi followed with 2 2/3 relief innings, one run, and two strikeouts in his first appearance since Aug. 7.
Sports Illustrated said Eovaldi will not be available Sunday after that bulk outing, with Tuesday against Boston a potential multi-inning window after Monday's travel day. Pfaadt (7-3) took the loss after six runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings.
