STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas | June 18, 2026 — The Frisco RoughRiders return to Riders Field on Thursday night with a chance to move one step closer to locking up the Texas League South first-half title.
Frisco will meet the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, at 7:05 p.m. in the fourth game of a seven-game series. Right-hander Winston Santos is scheduled to start for the RoughRiders, entering with a 1-3 record and 7.51 ERA. Arkansas will counter with left-hander Nico Tellache, who brings a 3-3 record and 3.04 ERA into the matchup.
The RoughRiders enter the night with their magic number down to two with four games remaining in the first half. Frisco can clinch a playoff spot and the first-half division crown Thursday with a win over Arkansas and a Midland victory over Amarillo. The Riders have made the playoffs 10 times in franchise history, most recently in 2024, and have won two championships, coming in 2004 and 2022. Frisco has also won the first half eight times, including last season.
Frisco RoughRiders: A Strong Contender for the Playoffs
The club moved closer to that goal Wednesday after splitting a doubleheader with Arkansas. The Travelers took game one 9-4, but Frisco responded loudly in game two with a 13-3 victory.
In the opener, Arkansas jumped on Frisco starter Blake Townsend early, launching two home runs in the first two innings to build a 4-0 lead. The Travelers scored all nine of their runs within the first five frames, creating a deficit the RoughRiders could not fully erase. Townsend took the loss, falling to 3-3.
Frisco’s offense showed signs of life behind Arturo Disla, who blasted two solo home runs off Arkansas starter Ryan Hawks. Malcolm Moore also collected his first Double-A hit during a two-run sixth inning, but the Riders ultimately fell short.
Game two looked much different from the start. Playing as the road team in the makeup game, Frisco struck immediately when Frainyer Chavez opened the contest with a leadoff home run into the lazy river. The RoughRiders scored twice in the first inning, then added four more in the second, with Chavez delivering an RBI single and Marcus Lee Sang driving in two runs with a triple.
That early offense gave Josh Trentadue room to work in his first start since moving to the bullpen. Trentadue threw three innings and allowed just one unearned run before leaving with Frisco ahead 6-1. After Arkansas trimmed the lead to 6-3, the RoughRiders broke the game open in the sixth inning.
Chavez doubled off the wall in left-center field to score another run, and Lee Sang, Disla and Julian Brock followed with RBI hits. By the end of the inning, Frisco led 11-3. Ryan Lobus worked two innings in relief to finish the game, and the Riders eventually stretched the lead to 13-3.
The doubleheader also continued a strong stretch for several Frisco hitters. Disla reached base seven times across the two games and was retired only once. Along with his two home runs, he drove in five runs and drew two walks. Chavez tied a career high with four hits in game two and finished a triple shy of the cycle.
Frisco’s offense remains one of the most productive units in the Texas League. Through 64 games, the RoughRiders rank second in the league with 575 hits, second with a .266 batting average, and second with 406 runs, averaging 6.3 per game. The Riders have scored seven or more runs in 28 games and are 21-1 when scoring eight or more.
The bullpen continues to be a major strength as well. Frisco’s relief corps owns a 3.88 ERA, ranking fifth in Double-A and first in the Texas League. Over the last 20 games, the RoughRiders’ bullpen has posted a league-best 3.24 ERA.
Thursday’s matchup gives Frisco another chance to control its postseason path. With the division within reach and Riders Field behind them, the RoughRiders have an opportunity to turn a strong first half into a clinching celebration.
