Texas Rangers reserve outfielder Travis Jankowski called his game-saving, home run-stealing catch against Andrew Vaughn of the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday “the highlight of my day, for sure.”
A highlight-reel play if ever there was one, the ninth-inning robbery helped secure a 4-3 road victory and put the defending World Series champs in position to earn a sweep of perpetually slumping Chicago on Thursday afternoon.
“It’s huge; every win matters at this point,” Jankowski said. “We’re a little far back. We’ve got some work to make up, but I still believe in this team.”
Still nine games under .500 and chasing six clubs for the final American League wild-card spot, the Rangers probably aren’t bound for the postseason.
But good vibes and momentum still count for something. Just ask the team strafing for some in the home clubhouse at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Chicago has lost six in a row and 10 of 11 after losing twice Wednesday, its one-run loss and the resumption of a game suspended due to rain on Tuesday.
At 31-103, the White Sox are three losses from matching the franchise record of 106 set in 1970.
Chicago must win 12 of its remaining 28 games to avoid tying the 1962 New York Mets’ modern major league record for most losses in a season (120).
“We’re all being tested,” White Sox interim manager Grady Sizemore said. “But we keep fighting.”
Though most opponents have had the better of the White Sox in 2024, the Rangers have really taken advantage of the matchup. They’re 6-0 versus Chicago and will aim for a sweep of the season series.
To salvage a victory amid an 0-6 start to a 10-game homestand, the White Sox must try once again to wipe the slate clean.
“You’ve got to keep grinding, you know,” Vaughn said. “Today’s over. Go home. Get some sleep. Back here tomorrow.”
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will get the call for the Rangers.
Eovaldi (9-7, 3.79 ERA) has struggled for much of August but is coming off a victory at Cleveland on Friday, when he delivered six innings and gave up three runs on six hits. Eovaldi threw a season-high 106 pitches in his second straight quality start, his team-best 12th of the season.
“Physically, I felt good. I wish I would have been able to execute a few more pitches,” Eovaldi said. “I felt like they worked the counts really well, and I definitely had to work out there.”
Eovaldi provided another quality start to beat the visiting White Sox on July 24, scattering two runs and four hits in seven innings with zero walks and 10 strikeouts. He is 3-2 with a 5.03 ERA in seven games (six starts) against the White Sox.
Rookie righty Nick Nastrini is set to be recalled from Triple-A Charlotte to start for Chicago. Nastrini (0-5, 8.39) hasn’t pitched in the majors since June 8 versus the Boston Red Sox. Nastrini took the lone no-decision of his brief career, giving up one run and two hits in 4 1/3 innings with five walks and five strikeouts. He has not faced the Rangers in his career.
–Field Level Media