PREVIEW: Yankees at Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — The New York Yankees (18-10) visit the Texas Rangers (14-14) on Tuesday at Globe Life Park, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. under cloudy skies and 84-degree heat.

New York has not formally named a starter but lists right-handers Cam Schlittler (3-1) and Jacob deGrom (2-0) as probable pitchers. Schlittler has been effective in his first five starts, while deGrom has allowed just two runs over 15 innings this season. The Rangers will counter with right-hander Kumar Rocker (0-4), who owns a 3.86 ERA despite an 0-4 record. Rocker has pitched to a 2.77 ERA over his last three outings, including a quality start Sunday against (6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 K) in a 2-1 loss.

The Yankees enter on a three-game winning streak after splitting a four-game series at Houston, capped by a 4-0 shutout of Texas on Monday. New York’s Paul Blackburn, a reliever, has been a reliable arm out of the bullpen, posting a 1.42 ERA over his last six appearances with 8 strikeouts in 10 innings. He threw three scoreless innings Sunday at Houston. First baseman Paul Goldschmidt is also swinging a hot bat, going 2-for-4 with an RBI in that game.

Texas has dropped three of its last four, including Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Oakland. Rocker, despite the hard-luck record, has pitched into the sixth inning in three of his last four starts. The Rangers’ lineup has struggled to generate offense, scoring two or fewer runs in four of their past seven games.

The teams meet again Wednesday in the second game of this two-game set before New York returns home to host Baltimore on Friday and Texas travels to Detroit.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is New York 7, Texas 4. The Yankees are installed as -1.5 favorites, with an over/under of 7.5 runs. Bettors have leaned toward the over, given New York’s recent offensive outbursts (12 runs at Houston on Friday) and Texas’s inconsistency at the plate.

Tuesday’s matchup features two pitchers at different stages: Rocker, a former first-round pick seeking his first major league win, and Schlittler (or deGrom), who is vying to keep New York atop the American League East. The Yankees’ bullpen, anchored by Blackburn and closer Clay Holmes, has been solid. Texas will look to Rocker to provide length and keep the game close.

With the season’s first month winding down, both teams aim to build momentum. New York has won nine of its last 12, while Texas has lost six of nine.

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