Rangers vs White Sox predictions
This matchup feels like a good one for the Texas Rangers to bounce back, especially with Jack Leiter set to take the hill. I’m expecting Leiter to show some poise and rack up around five or six strikeouts while giving the Rangers a solid five-plus innings. At the plate, Josh Jung has been dialed in with his team-best .288 average, so don’t be surprised if he sprays a couple of base hits and maybe adds an RBI to his tally. Adolis Garcia, the power threat in right, looks primed to drive in at least one run, and Wyatt Langford’s combo of pop and speed makes him a sneaky candidate to cross the plate and pop one out—or at least lace an extra-base hit. Guys like Marcus Semien and Josh Smith should keep the rally moving, grabbing a handful of hits between them to put some pressure on Jonathan Cannon and the White Sox bullpen.
On the other side, the White Sox will look for a spark from Lenyn Sosa—their most reliable bat lately—who could pick up a pair of hits and put himself in scoring position a couple of times. Miguel Vargas has shown flashes of pop, so it wouldn’t be shocking if he finds a mistake from Leiter and pushes a run across with a double or even a long ball. Speedsters like Luis Robert and Mike Tauchman might swipe a base if they get on, but the lineup as a whole has been scuffling, ranking low in average and hits. It seems like their most likely source of production tonight would be opportunistic solo shots or capitalizing on any walks Leiter might issue early. On the mound, Jonathan Cannon could grind through five innings but will have to work hard to limit the damage against a Rangers lineup that’s hungry to get back on track.
Putting it all together, this feels like a spot where the Texas Rangers should end their slide and notch a win on the road. Even though neither offense has lit the scoreboard on fire recently, the Rangers’ edge in power bats and a slight nod to their pitching matchup with Leiter gives them the upper hand. If they can string together some timely hits and let their top guys lead the charge, it’s entirely possible we’ll see Texas snap out of its funk and grab a much-needed victory in Chicago. What do you think—is this the night the Rangers say enough’s enough?
