AMARILLO, Texas (July 8, 2025) — The Frisco RoughRiders, Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, will look to rebound from a tough series loss as they open a six-game road set against the Amarillo Sod Poodles, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ affiliate, on Tuesday night. First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. CT from HODGETOWN, with Frisco sending right-hander Ben Anderson (4-4, 4.13 ERA) to the mound against Amarillo’s Alec Baker (2-2, 3.46 ERA).

The RoughRiders arrive in Amarillo with a 4-8 second-half record (42-38 overall) after a disappointing 5-1 defeat in their series finale against the Arkansas Travelers on Sunday. Arkansas jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first two innings, capitalizing on a pair of two-run hits from Connor Charping and an RBI single from Lazaro Montes. Though Keith Jones II provided a seventh-inning RBI single to get Frisco on the board, the offense fell short, stranding the bases loaded as Arkansas reliever Nick Davila struck out Abimelec Ortiz to end the threat.

Despite the early struggles, Frisco starter Trey Supak (5-3) settled in and retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced over six innings. Still, the early five-run deficit proved too much to overcome, and Frisco dropped its third game of the series and now turns its attention to Amarillo.

Riders Look to Regroup on the Road

Tuesday’s matchup marks the beginning of a crucial six-game set as the Riders aim to gain ground in the second half of the Texas League season. The offense, which averaged just over three runs per game in the Arkansas series, will need to find rhythm against an Amarillo squad that has played better baseball of late, winning seven of its last 12 games to improve to 7-5 in the second half (39-42 overall).

Frisco’s lineup continues to see positive contributions from rising prospects like Keyber Rodriguez, who hit .500 (9-for-18) during the Arkansas series, and Keith Jones II, who impressed in his first Double-A action, hitting .400 with five RBI across the series. The Riders will also look for power bats like Ortiz and Cam Cauley to provide key run support behind Anderson on the mound.

Pitching Matchup: Anderson vs. Baker

Frisco hands the ball to Ben Anderson, who’s coming off a solid stretch of starts. The right-hander owns a 4-4 record with a 4.13 ERA across 14 starts this season. He’s posted back-to-back outings of five-plus innings with two earned runs or fewer and will look to continue that trend against an Amarillo lineup that has started to click in recent weeks.

The Sod Poodles counter with Alec Baker, a 6-foot-5 right-hander who has quietly been one of the more consistent arms in the Amarillo rotation. With a 3.46 ERA in 12 outings, Baker has held opponents to a .229 batting average while striking out 53 across 52 innings. He’ll face a Frisco lineup that has struggled with runners in scoring position but has shown flashes of clutch hitting in recent series.

What to Watch

• Bullpen Performance: The Riders’ bullpen allowed just one earned run across three innings in Sunday’s loss. Continued strong performances from relievers like Josh Mollerus and Gerardo Carrillo could prove pivotal in tight contests this week.

• Road Woes: Frisco is 20-21 on the road this season and will need to buck that trend to stay competitive in the South Division race.

• Amarillo’s Offensive Depth: The Sod Poodles boast a balanced attack with seven hitters collecting hits in their last win. Keeping the bottom half of their lineup in check will be key for Frisco’s pitching staff.

Up Next

Following the series opener Tuesday night, Frisco and Amarillo will meet for five more games at HODGETOWN through Sunday. The RoughRiders return home next week to face the Midland RockHounds in a pivotal divisional series as the second half heats up.

First pitch from HODGETOWN is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT.