MacKenzie Gore is the more talented arm on paper, but the early-season story is the same one Padres fans got used to: strikeouts piling up, walks piling up right behind them. He punched out 7 in 5 innings against the A's last time out and still labored through 35 pitches in a single inning. Against a Yankees lineup that grinds counts, free passes are the quickest way to a short outing.
- Day-To-DaySebastian Walcott (SS) — Rangers GM Ross Fenstermaker said Tuesday that Walcott could be ready for game action in August, "if all things according to plan" in his rehab from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.04/07
- 10-Day-ILJosh Smith (2B) — Smith is out of the lineup for Friday's game versus the Tigers.05/05
- 10-Day-ILWyatt Langford (LF) — Langford (forearm) rejoined the Rangers in Detroit on Saturday and will rest for a full week before being reevaluated by the team, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.05/02
- 10-Day-ILCody Freeman (3B) — Freeman (back) has resumed baseball activities, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.04/11
- 15-Day-ILChris Martin (RP) — Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said Friday that Martin (biceps) "took the next step" in his recovery and will throw a bullpen soon, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.05/01
- 15-Day-ILCarter Baumler (RP) — Baumler (intercostal) allowed one run on two hits over one inning in a rehab appearance at Triple-A Round Rock last Wednesday.04/26
- 15-Day-ILRobert Garcia (RP) — The Rangers placed Garcia on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left shoulder inflammation.04/23
- 15-Day-ILLuis Curvelo (RP) — The Rangers placed Curvelo on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right shoulder impingement, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.04/16
- OutNabil Crismatt (SP) — Crismatt will undergo surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.02/13
- OutDeclan Cronin (RP) — Cronin (elbow) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.10/08
- 60-Day-ILCody Bradford (SP) — Bradford (elbow) experienced a setback in his throwing program and will be shut down for at least a few days, MLB.com reports.04/26
- 60-Day-ILJordan Montgomery (SP) — Montgomery (elbow) will throw his fifth bullpen session Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.03/24
- Day-To-DayRyan Weathers (SP) — Weathers was scratched from his scheduled start for Thursday's game against the Rangers due to an illness he suffered earlier in the week, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.05/07
- Day-To-DayBen Rice (1B) — Rice (hand) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers.05/06
- Day-To-DayBen Hess (SP) — Double-A Somerset placed Hess on its 7-day injured list April 18 due to an unspecified injury.04/28
- Day-To-DayTravis MacGregor (SP) — MacGregor signed a minor-league contract with the Angels on Monday.03/29
- 10-Day-ILGiancarlo Stanton (DH) — Stanton (calf) has not been cleared to resume running, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.05/01
- 15-Day-ILGerrit Cole (SP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Cole (elbow) is expected to need a "couple more" rehab starts before being activated from the 15-day injured list, David Lennon of Newsday reports.05/06
- 15-Day-ILCarlos Rodon (SP) — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Rodon (elbow) is likely on track to return from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut Sunday in Milwaukee, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.05/06
- 15-Day-ILAngel Chivilli (RP) — Manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Chivilli (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for roughly three weeks, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.04/29
- 60-Day-ILClarke Schmidt (SP) — Schmidt (elbow) threw a bullpen session Friday, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.04/10
The injury column is doing real work here. Texas is still without Wyatt Langford and Josh Smith, and the Yankees are missing Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon — though Rodon is reportedly tracking toward a Sunday debut in Milwaukee. Ben Rice was out of Wednesday's lineup with a hand issue, which is worth watching for a first-base group already short on options.
The market has the Yankees at -142 with a total of 8.5, and the public is piled in — 88% of moneyline tickets and 80% of spread tickets are on the home side. The EV numbers don't love any side, but if you squint, the Rangers at +131 with a competent lefty starting and a bullpen day looming for New York is the kind of dog spot that at least makes sense.
Pick: lean Texas plus the runs. Gore can be maddening, but Blackburn is a spot starter and the Yankees pen is being stretched. Either way, getaway day in the Bronx with a 12:35 ET first pitch — set the lineup early.