Nathan Eovaldi looks to halt Rangers' slump in opener vs. Guardians

Time is ticking to make a move into the wild-card race, so this weekend's series in Arlington, Texas, between the Cleveland Guardians and Texas Rangers will be crucial for both teams.

The Guardians will send Slade Cecconi (5-6, 4.50 ERA) to the mound on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series. He will oppose fellow right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (11-3, 1.76), the Rangers' Cy Young Award candidate.

Texas has lost 11 of its past 14 outings and heads home after a scuffling road trip in which it went 2-5 in Toronto and Kansas City. The most recent of those setbacks was Thursday afternoon, when the Rangers fell 6-4 to the Royals to finish a fourth straight series loss. The Rangers are 63-66, in third place in the American League West, 7 1/2 games behind first-place Houston.

Texas is 5 1/2 games out of the AL's third and final wild-card spot, and Cleveland is three games out.

But the Guardians are struggling, having dropped five of their past six games, including 3-2 in 10 innings in Arizona on Wednesday. After winning nine of its 12 games immediately following last month's trade deadline, Cleveland has fallen into third place in the AL Central, 10 1/2 games off the pace set by Detroit.

"I don't look at the scoreboard for anybody else. I just know that we need to keep winning games. We need to get back on track," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said after the loss in Phoenix. "We control our own destiny."

Eovaldi has had a historic season for the Rangers, winning seven of his past eight starts. In his most recent outing, he bounced back from his only no-decision since late June by allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings in a 10-4 win over Toronto. Both runs he allowed were on solo homers. He struck out six and did not allow a walk.

"He just got better," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said about Eovaldi. "He was hitting his spots, wasn't trying to power his way through them. He just did a great job of pitching."

Eovaldi's ERA over his first 21 starts is the lowest of any pitcher who's logged 120 or more innings this year, with Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes (154 innings) a distant second at a 2.16.

Eovaldi is 4-2 with a 3.91 ERA over 48 1/3 innings in 10 career appearances (seven starts) against Cleveland.

Texas second baseman Marcus Semien was forced from Thursday's game with what the Rangers announced was a left foot contusion. His status for Friday's contest is to be determined.

Cecconi has struggled of late, losing his past two outings to extend his winless stretch to five outings. His most recent appearance was Saturday at home against Atlanta. Cecconi allowed a season-high eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings in a game Cleveland lost 10-1.

Cecconi has a 3.18 ERA without a decision in two career relief appearances covering 5 2/3 innings against the Rangers.

--Field Level Media