STWF Sports | FRISCO, Texas (August 18, 2026) — The Frisco RoughRiders return to action Tuesday night at Riders Field, opening a six-game series against the Wichita Wind Surge, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT, with right-hander D.J. McCarty getting the start for Frisco against Wichita right-hander Chris Vallimont. McCarty enters with an 0-2 record and 7.94 ERA, while Vallimont is 2-3 with a 3.64 mark.
Frisco enters the series with momentum after taking four of six from the San Antonio Missions, including three consecutive victories to close the set.
The RoughRiders secured the series Sunday with an 8-5 win, using another late offensive surge to break a tie in the eighth inning. Corey Joyce delivered the biggest swing with a two-run double as Frisco scored three times in the frame.
Late-game production has become one of the defining traits of this RoughRiders club.
Frisco leads Double-A with 244 runs scored in the seventh inning or later and has scored a league-best 95 runs in the eighth inning. During the second half, the Riders have produced 54 eighth-inning runs, and since July 1 they have recorded seven go-ahead, game-winning hits in the eighth.
That ability to strike late could again be important against Wichita.
One of Frisco’s hottest hitters entering the series is Dylan Dreiling.
The Rangers’ No. 13 prospect carries an 11-game hitting streak into Tuesday. During that stretch, Dreiling is batting .422 with five doubles, five home runs, 13 RBIs and a 1.347 OPS.
Over his last 30 games, he is hitting .374 with 10 home runs and 26 RBIs.
Dreiling’s 21 home runs are the most by a RoughRider since Blaine Crim hit 24 in 2022. His total is also the most by a center fielder in franchise history, while his .532 slugging percentage currently stands as the highest by a primary outfielder in team history with at least 200 at-bats.
Max Wagner has also provided significant power.
Wagner owns a career-high 16 home runs and has hit 12 over his last 38 games. His recent stretch has included several dramatic moments, most notably a walk-off grand slam against San Antonio and another go-ahead homer later in the series.
The Riders will also continue to monitor the progress of Sebastian Walcott, who returned from the injured list on Aug. 12.
The Rangers’ top prospect is batting .319 through 17 games this season with nine doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs and 19 runs scored.
Frisco’s lineup as a whole continues to rank among the best in Double-A.
Through 113 games, the RoughRiders lead Double-A with 1,034 hits and a .269 batting average. They are also averaging 6.0 runs per game and lead the Texas League in doubles and slugging percentage.
Why the Frisco RoughRiders Are a Team to Watch
The Riders have recorded at least eight hits in nine consecutive games, their longest such streak of the season.
Frisco already has a postseason berth secured after winning the Texas League South Division first-half championship with a 39-29 record, but the focus now shifts toward sharpening the club for September.
That starts Tuesday against Wichita.
McCarty will look to set the tone on the mound, while a deep and confident Frisco lineup will try to continue the offensive momentum that carried the Riders through the final three games against San Antonio.
With the postseason already booked, every series now becomes another opportunity for Frisco to build toward October-level baseball — and another chance for its late-inning offense to make noise.
