Rangers Set to Tangle with Cubs at Sloan Park in Preseason Showdown
As the Texas Rangers gear up for their next preseason encounter against the Chicago Cubs, fans are looking forward to what promises to be an intriguing matchup at Sloan Park. The Rangers, who have shown a mixed bag of results in their recent outings, will be keen to assert their dominance and head into the regular season with momentum on their side.
In their last game against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 16th, the Rangers' performance was less than stellar. With only 5 hits and a single run across nine innings, they fell short of expectations. Their hitting average stood at a meager .167, and despite keeping errors off the board and maintaining a perfect fielding percentage (FPCT), it wasn't enough to secure victory.
However, there's more than meets the eye when it comes to this Rangers team. A closer look at another recent game on March 16th against the Arizona Diamondbacks reveals a different story—a robust offensive display where they tallied 13 hits and secured a win with 4 runs. Their batting average soared to .342 that day, showcasing what this lineup is capable of when firing on all cylinders.
The pitching staff will need to step up as well after allowing 5 earned runs in both games mentioned above. The bullpen showed promise by posting an ERA of just 2.25 over four innings against Arizona but will need consistency across all matchups.
The upcoming game against Chicago presents an opportunity for redemption and fine-tuning before Opening Day arrives. The Cubs will not make it easy; they are known for being formidable opponents with talent spread throughout their roster.
Fans can expect Texas's hitters like those who shone brightly against Arizona—capitalizing on runners in scoring position—to take center stage once again as they aim for more consistent offensive production similar to that performance rather than the subdued effort seen versus Milwaukee.
Defensively speaking, maintaining error-free baseball while improving pitching stats is crucial for Texas if they wish to contain Chicago's hitters and come out on top in this preseason tussle.
The scheduled date for this much-anticipated game is March 17th at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ; first pitch is set for 1:05 PM MST (3:05 PM CST). For those unable or unwilling to make it out to Sloan Park but still wanting every play-by-play detail live—the broadcast network MARQ has got you covered from start-to-finish so you won't miss any action from home or wherever you may be watching!