What is the story about?
Reds
2, Rangers 0
- Not a great start to the homestand.
- A very 2025 feeling game, this was. Quality pitching, but the offense does a bunch of nothing and the Rangers lose a low scoring game.
- Kumar Rocker pitched well in his 2026 debut. The first inning was messy, with problematic defense contributing to two runs scoring before Rocker recorded his second out, but he stayed poised, handled things, and ended up pitching five innings of two run ball.
- Not bad for a guy who was only named the fifth starter at the end of camp, and who hadn’t pitched for two weeks.
- Rocker utilized a five pitch mix, with his slider and sinker making up almost 70% of his pitches while also using his changeup, fastball and cutter. The changeup was a pitch that it had been discussed he was going to need to use more often, and he got three swings and misses on it.
- Texas got good work from four relievers — Jalen Beeks, Jacob Latz, Carter Baumler and Tyler Alexander — to keep things close. It was a winnable game.
- Also, shout out to Carter Baumler for a 1-2-3 inning. He got a fly out, a strike out and a ground out and threw eight strikes in 12 pitches. It is his first 1-2-3 inning in the majors, and the first time he hasn’t walked a batter in an outing.
- The offense? I don’t want to talk about the offense.
- Kumar Rocker topped out at 97.2 mph with his fastball. Jalen Beeks hit 94.8 mph with his fastball. Jacob Latz touched 94.7 mph with his fastball. Carter Baumler’s fastball reached 95.0 mph. Tyler Alexander’s fastball maxed out at 91.6 mph.
- Corey Seager had a 107.4 mph single. Jake Burger had a 107.1 mph single. Josh Smith had a 105.0 mph line out.
- Okay, let’s go out and avoid being swept.
