Rangers bring 1-0 series lead over Rays into game 2

Updated Jul. 6, 2024 4:01 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Tampa Bay Rays (44-44, fourth in the AL East) vs. Texas Rangers (40-48, third in the AL West)

Arlington, Texas; Saturday, 4:05 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rays: Taj Bradley (3-4, 3.42 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 72 strikeouts); Rangers: Andrew Heaney (3-9, 4.04 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 85 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Rays -113, Rangers -106; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Texas Rangers lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Texas has a 22-21 record at home and a 40-48 record overall. Rangers hitters have a collective .308 on-base percentage, the ninth-ranked percentage in the AL.

Tampa Bay is 44-44 overall and 21-19 in road games. The Rays are 29-6 in games when they out-hit their opponents.

The teams play Saturday for the fifth time this season. The Rangers lead the season series 3-1.

TOP PERFORMERS: Marcus Semien has 16 doubles, a triple and 11 home runs while hitting .231 for the Rangers. Nate Lowe is 13-for-39 with a double and four home runs over the last 10 games.

Yandy Diaz has 16 doubles, a triple, seven home runs and 40 RBI while hitting .264 for the Rays. Ben Rortvedt is 12-for-31 with three doubles and two home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rangers: 3-7, .255 batting average, 3.97 ERA, outscored opponents by one run

Rays: 6-4, .242 batting average, 3.38 ERA, outscored opponents by seven runs

INJURIES: Rangers: Dane Dunning: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Cole Winn: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Evan Carter: 10-Day IL (lumbar), Cody Bradford: 60-Day IL (back), Austin Pruitt: 60-Day IL (knee), Joshua Jung: 60-Day IL (wrist), Tyler Mahle: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jacob deGrom: 60-Day IL (elbow), Carson Coleman: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Rays: Richard Lovelady: 15-Day IL (forearm), Jacob Waguespack: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jeffrey Springs: 60-Day IL (elbow), Drew Rasmussen: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shane McClanahan: 60-Day IL (forearm)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.