The Texas Rangers host the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field on Saturday, July 25, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM ET on FOX. Nathan Eovaldi gets the ball for Texas against Seattle right-hander Bryan Woo in a matchup that carries real AL West weight. The Rangers are playing in front of their home crowd, and with a divisional opponent in town, every game in this series matters. This one is worth watching from the first pitch.

Starting Pitchers: Eovaldi vs. Woo

Nathan Eovaldi is a known commodity — a power arm who attacks hitters with elite velocity and a hard splitter that generates weak contact when he's on. He's the kind of starter who sets the tone early and keeps lineups uncomfortable. The Rangers need length and competitiveness from him here, and Eovaldi has shown throughout his career that he rises in meaningful situations.

Bryan Woo is Seattle's answer on the other side. The young right-hander has flashed genuine upside for the Mariners and gives them a legitimate arm to send out in a road divisional start. He's not here to manage a game — Woo can miss bats, and the Rangers' lineup will need to stay disciplined and work counts to get to him.

Texas Rangers Starting Lineup

• 1. Joc Pederson — 1B
• 2. Wyatt Langford — LF
• 3. Ezequiel Duran — SS
• 4. Brandon Nimmo — RF
• 5. Evan Carter — CF
• 6. Nicky Lopez — 2B
• 7. Alejandro Osuna — DH
• 8. Josh Smith — 3B
• 9. Austin Wynns — C

Seattle Mariners Starting Lineup

• 1. Cole Young — 2B
• 2. Julio Rodríguez — DH
• 3. Dominic Canzone — RF
• 4. Randy Arozarena — LF
• 5. Josh Naylor — 1B
• 6. Cal Raleigh — C
• 7. Luke Raley — CF
• 8. J.P. Crawford — 3B
• 9. Colt Emerson — SS

Keys to Watch for the Rangers

• Eovaldi's command early: If he's locating the fastball and burying the splitter, this lineup has problems. A clean first two innings sets the tone for a long outing.
• Langford and Carter providing middle-of-lineup punch: Both young outfielders bat in the top five and represent the Rangers' best chance to do damage against a quality starter like Woo. Getting them into counts early is critical.
• Handling Julio Rodríguez: J-Rod hitting second for Seattle is a problem. He's capable of taking over a game at any moment. How Eovaldi — and the bullpen if it comes to that — manages him will go a long way toward determining the outcome.
• Pederson at the top: Joc Pederson leading off from first base is an interesting construction. He's a patient, dangerous hitter who can set up the lineup early if he gets on.

Prediction

This is a winnable game at home with Eovaldi on the mound. Globe Life Field gives the Rangers an edge, and if Eovaldi can carry this into the sixth or seventh inning, the bullpen has a chance to close it out. Seattle's lineup is dangerous enough — Rodríguez and Arozarena don't take nights off — that the Rangers can't afford a slow start offensively. Expect a tight, competitive game. Rangers take it, 4-2.