The Texas Rangers close out another home date at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, September 22, when they host the New York Mets at 8:05 PM ET. MacKenzie Gore gets the ball for Texas opposite left-hander Sean Manaea for New York. With the regular season winding down in late September, every game carries real weight, and this one pits two pitchers who have been relied upon heavily by their respective clubs all year long.

Probable Starters: MacKenzie Gore vs. Sean Manaea

Gore has been one of the more intriguing arms in the Rangers rotation since arriving in Arlington. The left-hander generates swings and misses with a diverse pitch mix and can work deep into games when his command is clicking. Tuesday night, he will need to navigate a Mets lineup that is capable of working counts and grinding at-bats — exactly the kind of approach that exposes pitchers who fall behind early.

Manaea brings plenty of experience to the visitor's mound. The veteran southpaw has made a career out of keeping hitters off-balance with his deceptive delivery. He will not overpower the Rangers lineup, but he does not need to. Manaea pitches to contact, leans on soft contact, and depends on his defense to make plays behind him.

Keys to Watch for the Texas Rangers

• Gore's first-inning command: If Gore gets through the early frames without walking batters, Texas has a legitimate shot at keeping this game low-scoring and in the bullpen's comfort zone.
• Barreling Manaea early: The Rangers offense does its best work when it attacks hittable pitches in the first two times through the order. Manaea's stuff plays up when he gets to mid-game with a lead. Texas needs to put pressure on him before he settles in.
• Bullpen depth: September rosters are expanded, which gives both managers more options. How each team's manager navigates the back half of this game could be the deciding factor.
• Capitalizing at Globe Life Field: The Rangers have the advantage of playing in a ballpark they know, in front of their home crowd. Protecting home turf this late in the season matters, plain and simple.

Prediction

This shapes up as a tight, pitcher-friendly game through the first five innings. Gore has the stuff to keep the Mets off the board early, and if the Rangers offense can scratch out a couple of runs against Manaea before the bullpens take over, Texas is in good position. The edge goes to the home side. Rangers win, 4-2.

Catch the game on Rangers Sports Network, presented by Progressive, or 105.3 The Fan on FM. Mets fans can tune into SNY or Audacy's WHSQ 880AM.