The Texas Rangers welcome the Seattle Mariners to Globe Life Field on Sunday, July 26 for a 2:35 PM ET first pitch that carries real AL West weight. Jacob deGrom starts for Texas against Seattle's Logan Gilbert in what shapes up as one of the better pitching matchups you'll see this summer. With both clubs operating in the same division, every game between these two matters — and when you've got two legitimate top-of-the-rotation arms squaring off, you show up ready to watch some baseball.

Pitching Matchup: Jacob deGrom vs. Logan Gilbert

This is the headliner, and rightfully so. DeGrom on the mound at Globe Life Field is always an event. When healthy, he's as good as anyone in the sport — elite velocity, elite command, the full package. The Rangers need him to go deep into this one and give a bullpen a chance to breathe. Gilbert is no pushover on the other side. The Mariners right-hander has developed into one of the more reliable starters in the American League, with the kind of mid-rotation to ace-caliber stuff that can quiet a Rangers lineup in a hurry. This game could easily be decided by a single run, so don't sleep on the pitching duel at the center of it.

Texas Rangers Lineup to Watch

• Joc Pederson (DH, leadoff) — Pederson setting the table from the top spot is an interesting choice. He's a professional hitter with pop, and if he gets on, this offense gets moving early.
• Wyatt Langford (LF, No. 2) — The young outfielder hitting second is where you want to see him. Langford has the tools to be a core piece of this offense for years.
• Ezequiel Duran (SS, No. 3) — Duran in the three-hole adds athleticism and bat speed to the heart of the order.
• Brandon Nimmo (RF, cleanup) — Nimmo protecting the middle of the lineup gives Texas a left-handed bat at a premium spot.
• Jake Burger (1B, No. 5) — Burger provides the power threat behind Nimmo. If Gilbert makes a mistake, Burger has the bat to make him pay.
• Evan Carter (CF, No. 6) — Carter continuing to carve out playing time in center is worth monitoring as the season moves into its second half.

Keys to the Game for Texas

• DeGrom's command early: If deGrom is locating his fastball in the first two innings, Seattle is going to have a long afternoon. The Mariners lineup — Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh — can do damage, but deGrom at his best is a matchup problem for anyone.
• Cracking Gilbert: Logan Gilbert does not typically beat himself. The Rangers need to work counts, string together at-bats, and look for pitch patterns. Sitting on first-pitch fastballs early in the count could be one avenue to getting to him.
• Raleigh factor: Cal Raleigh hitting sixth for Seattle is a genuine threat behind the plate and in the batter's box. DeGrom has to be aware of him — a mistake pitch to Raleigh in a close game could be the difference.
• Bottom of the order producing: With Nicky Lopez, Josh Smith, and Elias Díaz hitting seventh through ninth, Texas needs production out of the bottom third to keep pressure on Gilbert and prevent him from coasting through the lineup.

Prediction

This one stays close throughout, with deGrom dealing into the seventh and Gilbert matching him most of the way. The Rangers get to Gilbert for a pair of runs on the strength of some middle-of-the-order work — Nimmo or Burger coming through in a key spot — and deGrom's arm does the rest. Rangers win a tight one, 2-1. Catch it on Rangers Sports Network, presented by Progressive, or listen on 105.3 The Fan.