Joc Pederson -- General News

The Texas Rangers face Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen on Tuesday night after managing just four hits in Monday's loss despite strong bullpen performance. The Rangers were forced into a bullpen game after scratching starter Nathan Eovaldi due to left side tightness. The bullpen allowed only one run on six hits but the Rangers failed to score.

Gallen presents a mixed matchup. While he has struggled significantly on the road with a 7.13 ERA and has allowed 13 hits and 10 runs in less than 10 innings this March, his performance splits between left-handed and right-handed hitters are minimal (.299 vs .286). The Rangers' lineup features three left-handers with previous National League experience against Gallen in the top three spots: Corey Seager (.294, 1 RBI), Brandon Nimmo (.083), and Joc Pederson (.133) in an unusual DH position.

A potential bright spot is first baseman Jake Burger, who despite struggling overall, has a .500 average with 2 home runs and 3 RBI in just 8 career at-bats against Gallen. The Rangers may maintain their current matchup strategy on Tuesday before resting regulars Wednesday ahead of a Thursday travel day and nine-game road trip to Houston.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker implemented a notable lineup change for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks, moving Joc Pederson to the leadoff spot and dropping Brandon Nimmo from leadoff to the No. 2 position. The adjustment proved immediately successful as Pederson launched a leadoff home run, setting the tone for a 7-4 Rangers victory. Schumaker explained the rationale was to create more scoring opportunities for Nimmo, who had excelled in the leadoff spot with a .351/.385/.541 slash line but had struggled to score runs recently. Pederson had been on a hot streak, batting .400 over his previous seven games.

Nimmo, acquired by Texas in an offseason trade with the Mets, supported the lineup change, citing the importance of trying different approaches. The second inning adjustment paid immediate dividends, with the Rangers plating four runs in the fifth inning. MacKenzie Gore provided a strong pitching performance, delivering eight innings of one-run ball—the longest start by a Rangers pitcher all season. The seven runs scored represented the most the Rangers have scored at home this season, addressing a noted offensive struggle at Globe Life Field dating back to the previous year.

Joc Pederson started in right field for the Texas Rangers on Thursday, marking his first outfield start since late in the 2023 season. The 34-year-old borrowed teammate Alejandro Osuna's glove for the assignment, which came at manager Skip Schumaker's request. Pederson, now in his 1,401st career game, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to return to outfield play, a position where he was once a regular and played in two All-Star Games and the World Series. Since signing with Arizona as a free agent, Pederson transitioned to full-time DH duties, a role he continued with the Rangers. Prior to Thursday, he had started only three games in the field since joining Texas ahead of 2025, all at first base.

The Rangers deployed Pederson in the outfield specifically for Thursday's game against the Yankees, seeking to maximize lineup flexibility given New York's three left-handed relievers. With Yankees starter Paul Blackburn expected to throw fewer than five innings, Texas had three right-handed bench options available (Andrew McCutchen, Kyle Higashioka, and Sam Haggerty) for potential lineup adjustments. Pederson, who had played three innings of an outfield replacement role in an August 2024 game due to injury, was expected to be in the field only temporarily, with Osuna available as a defensive replacement later in the game.