Rangers' Tyler Mahle faces Dodgers, looks to continue stellar season start

The Texas Rangers will look to build on the momentum from a thrilling come-from-behind win to finish off a successful homestand when they battle the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday in the finale of a three-game interleague series in Arlington, Texas.

The Dodgers will send right-hander Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 4.85 ERA) to the hill to start the game while Texas counters with right-hander Tyler Mahle (3-0, 0.92 ERA).

Adolis Garcia hit a walk off, two-run homer to lift the Rangers to a 4-3 win over Los Angeles on Saturday afternoon. Texas managed just five hits but still evened the series while winning for the fourth time in five games on the homestand.

Garcia's blast over the left field wall came off the Dodgers' Kirby Yates, who was the Texas closer in 2024, and followed a double by Josh Smith. The home run was Garcia's fourth of the season and made a winner out of Jacob Webb, the third pitcher for Texas.

Yates (1-1) had his first blown save of the year. Six players had one hit each for Los Angeles, which had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Mahle has been fabulous for the Rangers, winning all three of his starts in April while allowing just one run and six hits over 18 innings. He pitched six shutout innings and gave up just three hits in a 4-0 Texas win over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday.

After a limited stint last September that followed missing all of 2023 to recover from Tommy John surgery, Mahle has allowed just eight hits through his first four starts, the lowest total by a Rangers pitcher through his first four starts of a season in franchise history (since 1961).

"(Mahle) is the guy we know," Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's healthy, and he's got a lot of poise out there. He doesn't let the game speed up at all. He just keeps his calmness out there, and he's got good weapons."

Mahle has started six games against the Dodgers in his career, amassing a 2-3 record and a 4.55 ERA over 31 2/3 innings while allowing 42 hits and striking out 24.

On Saturday, Tommy Edman manned the Dodgers' leadoff spot for the second straight game with superstar Shohei Ohtani away from the team on paternity leave. Edman went 3 for 4 with a home run and two runs in Friday's win over Texas before a 0 for 4 showing on Saturday.

"With the help of the team I think I've gotten better at doing everything with a purpose," Edman said. "Every swing has a purpose behind it. I'm working on something every day in the cage. Everything I do in the weight room is to address something I feel I need to work on. Everything means something, instead of just going through the motions sometimes."

Ohtani is set to return to the lineup on Sunday. In an Instagram post on Saturday, he announced the arrival of his daughter, whose name was not revealed.

He'll hope to have a hand in helping Glasnow to his first win since March 31, when he defeated the Atlanta Braves. In his most recent outing, Glasnow allowed two runs (both on homers) on three hits over six innings in a game Los Angeles dropped 4-2 at home to the Cubs on April 13. Glasnow struck out seven and walked one in the no decision.

Glasnow is 3-0 in three career appearances (all starts) against Texas with a 0.46 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings.

--Field Level Media