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Alexander earned a save after tossing one inning, allowing an unearned run on one hit and a hit-by-pitch while striking out a batter in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Phillies.
Alexander was the next man up after Texas turned to Robert Garcia and Chris Martin in the ninth inning. Alexander hit Otto Kemp with an 84.8 mph cutter to open the frame before later surrendering a two-out single by Bryce Harper, which drove in the inherited runner at second base. The southpaw was then able to settle in and strand Kemp at third base to end the game by getting Alec Bohm to pop out for the final out. Alexander isn't necessarily in the mix quite yet for the closer's role, but he is the first Ranger to notch a save in 2026.
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Rangers' Andrew McCutchen: Homers in Rangers win
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McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer, a double and an additional run scored in Sunday's 8-3 win over the Phillies.
Making his second start this season, McCutchen extended Texas' lead to 5-0 with a three-run blast off left Jesus Luzardo, his first home run this season. The 39-year-old McCutchen is expected to fill the short side of a platoon with Joc Pederson at DH after making the team out of spring training as a non-roster invitee. Through three games, McCutchen is 4-for-9 with four RBI.
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Rangers' MacKenzie Gore: Earns win in Rangers debut
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Gore (1-0) earned the win Sunday over the Phillies, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks across 5.1 innings. He struck out seven.
It was an impressive debut for Gore, who held the Phillies hitless through his first five innings before he was charged with a pair of runs in the sixth after allowing two singles and a walk. Despite the rocky finish, it was an encouraging showing from the left-hander, who posted a 4.17 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP and 185:64 K:BB across 30 starts (159.2 innings) in an up-and-down 2025 campaign with the Nationals. Gore is tentatively lined up to face the Reds at home in his next outing.
Carter is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
Though manager Skip Schumaker left the door open in spring training for Carter to see more opportunities versus southpaws in 2026, the left-handed-hitting outfielder has now been held out of the lineup for both of the Rangers' first two matchups against lefties. Wyatt Langford will slide over from left field to cover center field while Carter sits against the Phillies' Jesus Luzardo.
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Rangers' Josh Smith: Idle against southpaw
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Smith is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
Smith served as a super-utility player for Texas in 2025, but he looks like he'll have a more permanent home at second base this season after the Rangers traded Marcus Semien to the Mets over the winter. The Rangers will still look to shield the left-handed-hitting Smith from southpaws, after the 28-year-old produced a lowly 47 wRC+ in 121 plate appearances versus lefties in 2025. Ezequiel Duran will spell Smith at second base Sunday while southpaw Jesus Luzardo toes the rubber for Philadelphia.
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Rangers' Danny Jansen: Sitting Sunday
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Jansen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
Jansen drew starts in both of the Rangers' first two contests of the season, but he'll get a chance to catch his breath while Texas closes out its series in Philadelphia with a day game. Though Kyle Higashioka will receive the nod at catcher Sunday, Jansen looks to be Option 1A behind the plate for the time being.
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Rangers' Jacob deGrom: Improving but iffy for next start
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DeGrom said Sunday that his stiff neck is feeling "much better" and he remains optimistic he'll be able to make his first start of the season Tuesday or Wednesday in Baltimore, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
The veteran righty had been scheduled to start Saturday's game in Philadelphia, but he ended up being scratched just hours before the contest after his neck acted up. DeGrom seems to have responded well to the extra rest and he was able to play catch out to 120 feet Sunday. The Rangers may want to see deGrom complete a bullpen session Monday before clearing him to make his 2026 debut.
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Rangers' Joc Pederson: In lineup against righty
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Pederson served as the designated hitter and went 0-for-1 with a walk in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over Philadelphia.
Pederson, who was held out of the first game of the series with left-hander Cristopher Sanchez on the mound, got the start against righty Aaron Nola. As soon as lefty reliever Tanner Banks entered the contest, Texas manager Skip Schumaker sent Andrew McCutchen out to pinch hit for Pederson. It looks like DH will be strict platoon between the two.
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Rangers' Brandon Nimmo: Productive in win
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Nimmo went 2-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored in Saturday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Phillies.
The former Met singled and stole a base before scoring on a Jake Burger home run in the third inning. Nimmo then scored as the automatic runner in the 10th on a Wyatt Langford single. Nimmo is batting leadoff for Texas -- a job once held by Marcus Semien, the player he was traded for -- and that role gives him an excellent chance to steal double-digit bags for a third straight season.
Burger went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Phillies.
Burger had a big spring training and has carried it over to start the regular season. After homering in Thursday's season-opening 5-3 loss, Burger again went deep Saturday, taking a knuckle curve from Aaron Nola over the fence in the top of the third inning. Burger later added a single in the eighth inning. Through two games, Burger has gone 5-for-9 at the plate with two home runs and four RBI, though he's also struck out four times and committed two errors already.
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Rangers' Corey Seager: Swats first home run of season
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Seager went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Phillies.
Seager took a 92-mph fastball from Aaron Nola over the fence for his first home run of the season in the top of the first inning. Seager later singled in the fifth inning. Through two games, Seager is 4-for-8 at the plate with the home run and a pair of runs scored. The veteran shortstop was limited to 102 games last year due to hamstring issues and an appendectomy, but he was productive when available with 21 homers and an .860 OPS.
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Rangers' Robert Garcia: Unable to close door on Phillies
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Garcia surrendered two unearned runs on one hit and one walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning during Saturday's 5-4 win over the Phillies.
With the Rangers leading 3-0 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, manager Skip Schumaker called Garcia's number in Texas' first save situation of the season. Garcia struck out Kyle Schwarber and got Bryce Harper to ground out to begin the frame. After dispatching those tough lefty batters, the southpaw reliever ran into trouble against two righty batters. Alec Bohm singled ahead of a walk by pinch hitter Edmundo Sosa. Garcia was then pulled in favor of Chris Martin, but Martin was unable to close the door after a Jake Burger error opened the flood gates. The early pull helped Garcia avoid a blown save, but it's clear he was the first option to close out the game. Both he and Martin are expected to get save chances for Texas this season.
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Rangers' Chris Martin: Blows first save opportunity
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Martin (1-0) blew the save but came away with the win in Saturday's 5-4 victory over the Phillies. He allowed one unearned run on two hits and struck out one while recording one out.
With the Rangers up 3-0, manager Skip Schumaker actually called on Robert Garcia to open the ninth inning. However, Garcia recorded just two outs while allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout before giving way to Martin to protect the 3-0 lead. Martin surrendered two hits and three runs, two of which were charged to Garcia, to send the game to an extra inning. With neither pitcher faring well in their first outing of the season, Garcia would seem to continue to hold the slight edge for save opportunities for Texas.
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Rangers' Jacob Latz: Four scoreless innings Saturday
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Latz struck out three and walked one across four scoreless and hitless innings in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Phillies.
With Jacob deGrom scratched due to neck stiffness, Latz made the spot start for Texas after he lost out to Kumar Rocker for the fifth spot in Texas' rotation over the spring. Latz made easy work of the Phillies on 68 pitches but didn't factor into the decision. As long as deGrom is cleared for his next turn through the rotation, Latz should slot back into a long-relief role in the bullpen.
Latz is starting for the Rangers against the Phillies on Saturday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Jacob deGrom was initially slated to take the mound Saturday, but the veteran right-hander was scratched due to neck stiffness. Latz was unsuccessful in earning a spot in the Rangers' rotation this spring, but the 29-year-old will open things up in deGrom's absence. Latz started in eight regular-season games for the Rangers in 2025 and posted a 2.72 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 39.2 innings.
Rangers' Jacob deGrom: Scratched from Saturday's start
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DeGrom has been scratched from his scheduled start against the Phillies on Saturday due to neck stiffness, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
DeGrom was slowly brought on during spring training and was cleared to make his 2026 debut Saturday, but the veteran right-hander has suffered a setback, which will result in Jacob Latz taking the mound for the Rangers instead. Per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, the Rangers believe that deGrom's neck issue is not a serious one and that he could start later on in the road trip. Per Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com, deGrom is tentatively slated to start Tuesday against Baltimore.
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