Texas Rangers Set Pitching Rotation for Blue Jays Series

The series should mark the return of Jon Gray to the rotation, who was pushed back from his last Texas Rangers start.

© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Rangers starter Jon Gray is projected to make his return to the starting rotation on Sunday to wrap up a three-game series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Globe Life Field.

Gray (6-2, 2.32) will face Toronto’s Chris Bassitt (7-5, 4.02) in a 1:35 p.m. start.

Gray was supposed to start Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels due to a blister issue, but they pushed him back to give time to put the issue to rest. He threw a bullpen session Wednesday and said he had no issues.

Rangers left-hander Martín Pérez (6-2, 4.67) will start Friday’s opener with the Blue Jays, as Toronto counters with right-hander Kevin Gausman (5-3, 3.12). That game is set to start at 7:05 p.m.

The Blue Jays have not released a probable pitcher for Saturday’s 3:05 p.m. start. But the Rangers will start right-hander Dane Dunning (5-1, 2.76).

It’s unclear what the Rangers will do when they hit the road to face the Chicago White Sox on Monday.

Andrew Heaney would be the expected starter, but he’s coming off a 95-pitch performance on Wednesday in which he didn’t get out of the fourth inning.

The Rangers are in the midst of a stretch in which they play 30 games in 31 days leading up to the All-Star break. The Rangers could opt to start Cody Bradford on Monday, who started Tuesday’s game in place of Gray, and give Heaney, along with this weekend’s probable starters, an extra day of rest.

The Rangers are also off Thursday, their only respite before breaking for the Midsummer Classic.

More From SI’s Inside The Rangers:

1. Texas Rangers New Nike City Connect Jersey Pay Homage to Dallas-Fort Worth
2. Texas Rangers in Play to Sing Shohei Ohtani
3. Arlington Mayor Says Rougned Odor ‘Punch’ Mural to Stay
4. Texas Rangers Clubhouse ‘Insane’ Says Reliever
5. No Pride in Texas, Rangers Lone Team Without Pride Night
6. MLB, Texas Rangers Win Bally Sports Broadcast Suit
7. AL West is 'Ours,' Not Astros Says Texas Rangers First Baseman
8. Derek Holland Making Baseball Comeback
9. Bally Sports Southwest to Televise Nearly All Rangers Games
10. Texas Rangers Unveil Exciting New Ballpark Food

---

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.