The Texas Rangers host the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field on Tuesday, July 21, with first pitch set for 8:05 PM ET. Kumar Rocker takes the ball for Texas against Chicago left-hander Noah Schultz in what shapes up as an interesting pitching matchup between two young arms. With the dog days of summer in full swing, every home game at Globe Life Field carries real weight, and the Rangers will want to take care of business against a White Sox club that has been rebuilding for several seasons.

Starting Pitchers: Kumar Rocker vs. Noah Schultz

Rocker gets the nod for Texas, and this is a start worth watching closely. The big right-hander has the stuff to be a frontline starter — plus fastball, sharp breaking ball, and the kind of competitive makeup that Rangers fans have come to appreciate. His development this season is one of the more compelling storylines in Arlington, and a strong outing against Chicago would be a meaningful data point.

On the other side, Schultz is a young left-hander the White Sox have been developing as part of their rebuild. He presents a different look than most pitchers in the American League, and the Rangers lineup will need to make adjustments early in the game. Left-handed pitching can give any lineup fits until hitters get their timing right.

Texas Rangers Starting Lineup

• Wyatt Langford — DH
• Justin Foscue — 2B
• Josh Jung — 3B
• Brandon Nimmo — RF
• Jake Burger — 1B
• Ezequiel Duran — SS
• Cam Cauley — CF
• Elias Díaz — C
• Alejandro Osuna — LF

Keys to Watch Tuesday Night

Langford Setting the Tone at the Top

Wyatt Langford leads off and is the engine of this offense. How he performs in his first couple of plate appearances against Schultz will signal a lot about how the night goes. Langford has the athleticism and bat speed to handle left-handed pitching, and getting on base early puts pressure on Chicago's defense and bullpen right away.

Jung and Nimmo in the Heart of the Order

Josh Jung batting third and Brandon Nimmo cleaning up at four gives Texas a legitimate middle-of-the-order combination. Jung is the kind of hitter who can do damage against any pitcher, and Nimmo is a professional at-bat machine who works counts and finds ways to get on base. If those two are clicking, Jake Burger at five becomes an even bigger problem for opposing pitchers.

Rocker's Command and Pitch Mix

The key for Rocker is simple: throw strikes, stay ahead in counts, and trust his stuff. If he can keep the White Sox lineup off-balance through five or six innings, Texas should be in good shape heading into the late innings.

Prediction

The Rangers take this one at home. Globe Life Field has been a fortress when Texas pitching is on, and Rocker has the ability to give the Rangers a quality start. The lineup, led by Langford and Jung, should be able to do enough damage against a young White Sox arm to come away with a victory. Rangers win, 4-2.

Catch the game on Rangers Sports Network presented by Progressive, or locally on 105.3 The Fan.