The Texas Rangers host the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field on Friday, September 4, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 8:05 PM ET. Trevor Williams gets the ball for Texas, squaring off against former big leaguer Nick Martinez, who takes the mound for Tampa Bay. With the regular season in its final weeks, every game carries weight in the standings, and the Rangers will look to protect their home turf against a Rays club that is never easy to dismiss regardless of the calendar.

Probable Pitchers: Trevor Williams vs. Nick Martinez

Williams draws the start for the Rangers in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching matchup. The right-hander has been a part of the Texas rotation and will need to work efficiently against a Rays lineup that traditionally grinds at-bats and works counts. On the other side, Martinez brings experience to the mound for Tampa Bay. The matchup between two pitchers capable of keeping their teams in games should make for a competitive nine innings at Globe Life Field.

Texas Rangers Starting Lineup

• 1. Joc Pederson — DH
• 2. Corey Seager — SS
• 3. Wyatt Langford — LF
• 4. Brandon Nimmo — RF
• 5. Ezequiel Duran — 2B
• 6. Jake Burger — 1B
• 7. Evan Carter — CF
• 8. Cody Freeman — 3B
• 9. Elias Díaz — C

Keys to Watch for the Rangers

Corey Seager and the Middle of the Order

Seager batting second sets the table for what looks like a balanced lineup. With Wyatt Langford hitting third and Brandon Nimmo slotted fourth, the Rangers have a legitimate run-producing core in the middle. If Seager can get on base and Langford and Nimmo drive him in, Texas has the lineup construction to put up crooked numbers against Martinez.

Joc Pederson Leading Off

Pederson in the leadoff spot is worth monitoring. He gives the Rangers a left-handed bat at the top of the order and someone capable of working walks or doing damage early in counts. How he performs against Martinez in his first plate appearance could set the tone for Texas's offensive approach throughout the game.

Evan Carter and the Bottom of the Order

Carter hitting seventh and Cody Freeman eighth gives the Rangers some athleticism and upside in spots where other lineups often stall. If those two can contribute alongside Elias Díaz at nine, the Rangers have a lineup without a soft underbelly — the kind that can string together rallies when it matters most late in a tight game.

Prediction

This figures to be a close, well-pitched game. Williams needs to keep Tampa Bay off the board early, and the Rangers' lineup has enough quality from top to bottom to get to Martinez. Globe Life Field should be a factor — Texas has historically used its home environment to its advantage. Expect a competitive ballgame decided by two or three runs. Rangers edge the Rays, 4-2.