The Texas Rangers head to Angel Stadium on Tuesday, August 11 for a 9:38 PM ET showdown with the Los Angeles Angels. Cody Bradford gets the ball for Texas, squaring off against Angels right-hander Ryan Johnson in what figures to be a pitching-driven affair on a late West Coast night. For a Rangers club playing meaningful August baseball, every game in this stretch carries real weight — and Bradford will need to be sharp if Texas wants to come away with a road win in Anaheim.
Probable Pitching Matchup: Cody Bradford vs. Ryan Johnson
Bradford has been one of the more intriguing arms in the Rangers rotation. The left-hander relies on deception and command rather than overpowering stuff, making him a tough read for hitters who see him for the first time or haven't faced him recently. He'll need to attack the strike zone early and keep the Angels' lineup off-balance through the middle innings if Texas is going to get a quality start out of this one.
On the other side, Ryan Johnson gets the nod for Los Angeles. Johnson is a name Rangers hitters will need to be prepared for — the Angels will be leaning on him to keep Texas's offense in check at home. Without detailed ERA or win-loss figures available heading into this one, both pitchers enter with something to prove, and the matchup has the feel of a game that could turn on a single big inning.
Keys to Watch for the Rangers
- Bradford's command: When Bradford is on, he generates weak contact and keeps the ball in the park. Watch his first-pitch strike rate — if he's ahead in counts early, Texas has a real shot at a low-scoring win.
- Lineup vs. a fresh arm: Ryan Johnson will have the element of unfamiliarity on his side. Rangers hitters will need to work counts, get deep into at-bats, and make adjustments as the game progresses rather than swinging early.
- Bullpen management: Late West Coast starts can stretch a pitching staff. How Texas manager Bruce Bochy deploys his relievers after Bradford exits will likely determine the outcome in the back half of this game.
- Capitalizing on opportunities: Angel Stadium can play differently than Globe Life Field back in Arlington — Rangers hitters should be aggressive on fastballs and look to do damage when Johnson leaves pitches over the plate.
Prediction
This one has the look of a tight, low-scoring game decided by three runs or fewer. Bradford is capable of giving the Rangers six solid innings, and if Texas can scratch across a couple of runs early against a relatively unknown quantity in Ryan Johnson, this lineup has enough in it to hold on. Rangers take this one on the road, 4-2, with Bradford earning the decision and the bullpen closing it out.
Catch the action on Rangers Sports Network, presented by Progressive, or listen in on 105.3 The Fan.
