Rangers heat up as D-backs suffer heartbreak in playoff race

In search of their longest winning streak of the season, the Texas Rangers will look to inch closer to the American League postseason picture on Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

Winners of six straight, Texas (72-67) gained ground on the Seattle Mariners on Monday, pulling within 1 1/2 games of the final AL wild-card spot. The Rangers also trail the AL West-leading Houston Astros by 4 1/2 games.

The Rangers have averaged 9.5 runs across the six-game stretch, including a come-from-behind, 7-5 victory in 10 innings in the series opener on Monday. After trailing 5-3 entering the ninth inning, Texas scored the game's final four runs, including rookie Cody Freeman's game-tying RBI single as the Rangers were down to their final strike.

"That was awesome; that was a fun game," said Freeman, who also slugged his second career homer on Monday in his 15th game.

"This just keeps us going. It gives us confidence. We're in a playoff push right now. It's September baseball; it's what we live for. The opportunity I have to be playing with a winning baseball team in September, I can't ask for more."

Left-hander Jacob Latz (1-0, 3.13 ERA) is the probable starting pitcher on Tuesday, which would be his 28th appearance and fifth start of the season as Texas vies for its fourth consecutive series win.

Latz, 29, re-entered the Rangers' rotation last Wednesday, allowing two runs in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Angels as the Rangers won 20-3.

Latz has faced Arizona once in his career, allowing one run in two-thirds of an inning in May 2024.

The Diamondbacks (68-71) created late-season life for themselves with a four-game winning streak, but they have since dropped back-to-back heartbreakers. After losing 5-4 against the host Los Angeles Dodgers on a walk-off home run on Sunday, Arizona faltered down the stretch on Monday to Texas.

The Diamondbacks have fallen to 6 1/2 games out of the National League wild-card picture with 23 games to play.

Adding insult to injury, Arizona left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was carted off the field with an injury in the series-opening loss after nearly colliding with center fielder Blaze Alexander in the sixth inning.

Gurriel drove in 32 runs in August, third most in a month in franchise history. At the tail end of an Arizona season that looks to be in its final days, Gurriel's initial prognosis wasn't promising.

"Lourdes has some right knee pain, discomfort," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "We're going to hope for the best, but I don't think it looks great. Before I speculate, we're going to park it in neutral for 24 hours, but it doesn't look great."

On the mound Tuesday, right-hander Nabil Crismatt (2-0, 1.84 ERA) will make his fourth appearance and third start of the year. The 30-year-old went 5 2/3 innings against the host Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits and one walk with two strikeouts in a 6-4 victory.

Crismatt, slated for the 118th appearance of his six-year career, will face the Rangers for the first time.

--Field Level Media