The Texas Rangers head to Rate Field on Wednesday, August 26 for a 7:40 PM ET first pitch against the Chicago White Sox. MacKenzie Gore gets the ball for Texas against Chicago's Sean Burke in what shapes up as a solid pitching matchup on a summer Wednesday night. For a Rangers club grinding through the regular season, every road win matters, and this is a game Texas should be circling as a winnable one.
Pitching Matchup: MacKenzie Gore vs. Sean Burke
MacKenzie Gore is the story on the mound for Texas. The left-hander has shown the kind of stuff that makes him a legitimate rotation anchor, and a strong outing in a road environment like Rate Field would be a confidence-builder heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Gore's ability to generate weak contact and keep the ball in the park will be critical in a ballpark that can play differently depending on conditions off Lake Michigan.
On the other side, Sean Burke takes the hill for Chicago. Burke is a young arm who has shown flashes, and the Rangers' lineup cannot afford to take him lightly just because the White Sox have faced their share of struggles this season. Underestimating a pitcher in a hitter-friendly environment is how lineups get beat.
Keys to Watch for the Texas Rangers
- Gore's command early: If Gore is locating his fastball and working both sides of the plate in the first three innings, Texas is in a strong position. Early command sets the tone for everything that follows.
- Capitalize against a young starter: Burke is still developing at the big-league level. The Rangers need to work counts, get deep into his arsenal, and make him throw pitches. Patience at the plate could pay big dividends here.
- Bullpen management: Anytime Gore exits, the Texas bullpen takes on real importance. Bridging from Gore to the back end of the 'pen cleanly will be a factor if this game tightens up late.
- Road discipline: Rate Field is not a hostile environment by any measure right now, but staying focused and not letting a road trip become a sloppy outing is always a concern for any traveling club.
Broadcast Information
Rangers fans can catch Wednesday's game on Rangers Sports Network, presented by Progressive, or listen on 105.3 The Fan. Spanish-language coverage is available on KFLC 1270 AM and 107.9 La Ley. Chicago-area fans can tune in on Chicago Sports Network or ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM.
Prediction
This is a game Texas should win. Gore is the better-proven arm in this matchup, and if he can deliver six quality innings, the Rangers' offense should have enough opportunities against Burke to plate the necessary runs. Expect a competitive game through the middle innings before Texas pulls away late. Rangers win, 4-2.
