The Cubs are heading to an AL West ballpark for a weekend series against the Rangers.
Earlier in 2026, the Cubs played another AL West team, taking two of three from the Angels.
Rangers’ Current Situation
Things are not ideal for the Texas Rangers at the moment. The team is three games under .500. Wyatt Langford and Josh Smith are both on the injured list. Langford, in particular, is a significant loss to the lineup.
On a brighter note, the Rangers have navigated a challenging schedule and are only two games behind the Northern California Athletics in the American League West.
Pitching Matchups: Rocker and Leiter
The Rangers will start Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter in the first two games of the series. Both pitchers have shown inconsistency this season. They have had moments of brilliance mixed with struggles.
Rocker relies on a sinker/slider combination and generates many ground balls. His slider is his best pitch. When he’s on form, he throws it for strikes, preventing hitters from anticipating his sinker. However, he struggles with command when he’s not at his best, and hitters capitalise on his sinker. Rocker is also vulnerable to base stealers.
- Base stealers are 5 for 5 against him this season.
- Base stealers are 17 for 17 against him in his major league career.
Leiter depends on a high-speed, high-spin fastball that leads to swings-and-misses. He introduced a kick-change last year, which he now uses more frequently, even against right-handed hitters. This changeup can be very effective, but his command of it is inconsistent. The pitch can end up anywhere, from above the batter’s head to bouncing well in front of the plate. When Leiter is pitching well, he gets many strikeouts and easy outs. When he struggles, his pitch count rises quickly, and he allows hard hit balls.
DeGrom to Pitch the Finale
Jacob deGrom is scheduled to pitch the final game. He is still a legitimate No. 1 starter. However, he has become more prone to giving up home runs since returning from Tommy John surgery. DeGrom has allowed just 13 runs this year, but six have been home runs.
The Cubs will look to capitalise on these pitching matchups and the Rangers’ current struggles as they aim to secure a series win in the AL West ballpark.