ARLINGTON, Texas (July 26, 2025) — The Texas Rangers aim to finish strong as they host the Atlanta Braves in the finale of a three-game interleague series on Saturday evening at Globe Life Field. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. CT, with the Rangers looking to extend their winning streak to five games and continue their second-half surge.
Texas (55-50, 33-20 at home) has rediscovered its rhythm following the All-Star break, riding strong pitching and timely hitting to climb above the .500 mark and stay in the heart of the American League Wild Card race. Meanwhile, the Braves (44-59, 18-33 on the road) have been reeling, losing four straight and slipping further behind in the National League East standings.
Pitching Matchup: Rangers Set to Lean on Staff Depth
While Texas has yet to officially announce its starting pitcher for Saturday, the club could potentially turn to a bullpen game or a spot starter from Triple-A Round Rock given the current rotation shuffle. The Rangers have been cautiously managing innings, particularly with veterans like Nathan Eovaldi and Jon Gray anchoring the top of the staff.
Atlanta, on the other hand, will counter with right-hander Allan Winans (2-5, 4.92 ERA), who’s looking to snap a personal three-game losing streak. Winans has had trouble keeping the ball in the yard, giving up seven home runs in his last five starts. He’ll need to navigate a dangerous Rangers lineup that has regained its power stroke in recent games.
Rangers Riding Wave of Offensive Contributions
The Rangers’ offense has been firing on all cylinders since the All-Star break, averaging over six runs per game during their current win streak. On Friday night, Texas cruised to an 8-3 win over the Braves behind five scoreless innings from Eovaldi and clutch contributions throughout the lineup.
Designated hitter Jonah Heim homered in the second inning, and Sam Haggerty continued to spark the top of the order, adding a double, a stolen base, and an RBI. Wyatt Langford and Marcus Semien each contributed timely hits, while Corey Seager extended his on-base streak to 25 games despite going hitless.
The emergence of Logan Porter and Travis Jankowski in key reserve roles has added valuable depth for Texas, allowing manager Bruce Bochy flexibility with matchups and late-game substitutions.
Braves Looking for Answers
Atlanta is in unfamiliar territory this late in the season, sitting 15 games below .500 and struggling to find consistency at the plate. Michael Harris II provided one of the few bright spots on Friday night with a solo home run, his eighth of the season, but the Braves managed just three runs on six hits.
Austin Riley returned to the lineup Friday after missing time with an abdominal strain, but he went 0-for-4 in his first game back. The Braves need more production from sluggers like Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna if they hope to salvage a win in this series and avoid the sweep.
Atlanta’s bullpen, already under strain due to the team’s faltering starters, has also been tagged with heavy innings in this series. That trend could continue Saturday if Winans is unable to pitch deep into the game.
Key to the Game: First-Inning Execution
Texas has scored in the opening frame in three straight games, while Atlanta has allowed first-inning runs in five of its last six contests. If the Rangers can once again jump out early, it could spell trouble for a Braves team that hasn’t shown much resilience when trailing.
What’s Next:
Following Saturday’s finale, the Rangers will get a much-needed day off Sunday before hosting the division-rival Seattle Mariners on Monday. Atlanta will return home to begin a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Final Thoughts:
With momentum squarely on their side, the Rangers will look to stay hot and close out a successful homestand against an Atlanta squad still searching for answers. If Texas continues to get quality pitching and balanced offense, a sweep could be the perfect boost heading into the final stretch of July.
