Texas Rangers Set Rotation for Start of Homestand

Jon Gray will start for the Texas Rangers on Friday as they start a nine-game, 10-day homestand to begin the second half of the season.

The Texas Rangers will open the second half of the season with Jon Gray taking the mound in Friday night’s game against the Cleveland Guardians.

The right-hander will pitch for the first time since his start against Boston on July 5, which was his fourth straight loss. Still, Gray (6-5, 3.29) has been one of the Rangers’ more consistent starters this season.

Gray will face Cleveland right-hander Aaron Civale for the series opener at Globe Life Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

On Saturday, the Rangers expect left-hander Andrew Heaney (5-6, 4.71) will make his first start since July 8 opposite Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams.

Heaney has struggled with pitch count of late, as he hasn’t thrown a start of at least six innings since the end of May.

On Sunday, the Rangers will turn to left-hander Martín Pérez (7-3, 4.81) against Cleveland right-hander Tanner Bibee.

The Rangers skipped the last Pérez start on the road trip before the All-Star Break, so he hasn’t gone since July 3. After having an All-Star season a year ago, he has an ERA two points higher than 2022 and has already given up 16 home runs after allowing 11 last year.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Dane Dunning (8-2. 2.84) would start on Monday and Nathan Eovaldi (10-3, 2.83) would start on Tuesday when the Rangers face the Tampa Bay Rays.

Eovaldi threw an inning in the All-Star Game on Tuesday, while Dunning hasn’t pitched since Sunday at the Washington Nationals.

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