The Texas Rangers are looking to assert their dominance in the American League Divisional Series as they prepare to face the Baltimore Orioles in Game 2 on Sunday. In a thrilling opener, the Rangers secured a 3-2 victory over top-seeded Baltimore, marking their third consecutive postseason win, all of which have come on the road.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy expressed his satisfaction with the team’s road performance, saying, “It’s always nice to play well on the road. And we knew we had to do this going to Tampa and coming here facing a really tough ball club. Got work to do, but guys just responded so well after that series (last weekend) in Seattle.”
In Game 2, the Rangers will send left-hander Jordan Montgomery (1-0, 0.00 ERA postseason) to the mound, while the Orioles will counter with rookie right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (7-4, 4.35 regular season).
Montgomery, acquired from the last-place St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline, ended the regular season on a high note, going 2-0 with a remarkable 0.67 ERA over his final four starts. In each of those starts, he allowed one run or less, showcasing his prowess during a crucial playoff push. Montgomery opened the playoffs for the Rangers by tossing seven shutout innings against Tampa Bay, striking out five, and not issuing a walk.
In his career, Montgomery holds a 3-1 record with a 3.04 ERA in 16 starts against the Orioles.
Notably, the Rangers made the decision to exclude veteran right-hander Max Scherzer from the ALDS roster. Scherzer had been dealing with a strained teres major muscle in his right shoulder and threw a two-inning simulated game on Friday. Bochy noted that Scherzer could potentially be added to the roster in the event of an injury.
On the other side, Grayson Rodriguez’s season exhibited two distinct phases. He began with a challenging stretch, going 2-2 with a 7.35 ERA in his first 10 starts, which led to a stint in Triple-A Norfolk to refine his fastball command. Upon his return in mid-July, Rodriguez transformed into a different pitcher, posting a 5-2 record with a 2.58 ERA in 13 starts, earning him the Game 2 starting nod.
Teammate Austin Hays praised Rodriguez’s resurgence, noting, “He’s been a completely different pitcher since he came back. You can see the hunger in his eyes. There’s no fear, a ton of confidence in every one of his pitches.”
Rodriguez made his MLB debut against the Rangers on April 5, delivering a solid performance by allowing two runs on four hits over five innings in a no-decision.
In Game 1, the Rangers received offensive contributions from rookies Josh Jung and Evan Carter, along with strong pitching performances from their bullpen. Anthony Santander provided the Orioles’ offense with a homer, a single, and a walk.
With Game 2 looming, the Orioles aim to avoid falling behind 2-0 as they look to generate early run support and level the series before potentially traveling to Texas. Manager Brandon Hyde emphasized the importance of scoring early, stating, “We respond fine. In the last week or so of the regular season, we had a tough time scoring early. And it takes a lot of pressure off the people on the mound if we get a few runs across early in the game.”
