Texas Rangers Monday Rundown: Kumar Rocker's home debut is hooky-worthy

The rookie right-hander will make his only appearance this season today at Globe Life Field as the Texas Rangers try for the sweep.

Today marks the last time for Texas Rangers fans to play hooky this season.

Hooky from work, hooky from school, hooky from whatever. Kumar Rocker is pitching, and it’s the only chance for Rangers fans to watch him this season at Globe Life Field.

The rookie right-hander is making his home debut this afternoon in the series finale against the Blue Jays. The Rangers won the first two games, including a 2-0 triumph Wednesday, and will be going for a sweep.

Rocker will make his second career start and will have 85 pitches to work with. That should get him through five innings and maybe into the sixth after he worked four scoreless innings last week in his MLB debut.

He said that he will have some nerves, though likely not as many as last week at T-Mobile Park. He said the next day that he didn’t realize he had so much adrenaline going through him until he finally got it out of his system at 3:30 a.m.

If the nerves were affecting him against the Mariners, he didn’t show it. He said afterward that he was out of rhythm and didn’t care for his fastball command. Really, his slider (which he confirmed he calls a curveball, as DLLS reported) was moving well even if he wasn’t happy with the command.

Talk about being a perfectionist. Sheesh.

The guess here is that Rocker will know how to handle his nerves, will have worked on his command and will pitch well today. Play hooky and find out for yourself.

Bradford rebounds

Rocker, though, will have his hands full trying to match what left-hander Cody Bradford did Wednesday night to the Blue Jays. Bradford allowed only five hits in seven scoreless innings after allowing eight runs in 3 2/3 innings last week at Arizona.

As is the case with Bradford, when he’s commanding his pitches, he’s tough to hit. He got some help from Adolis Garcia, who made a leaping catch in front of the Rangers’ bullpen to rob extra bases in the third. The threat of Garcia’s arm kept Blue Jays base clogger Alejandro Kirk from scoring on a sacrifice fly in a scoreless fifth inning after Toronto put runners at second and third with no outs.

For good measure, Garcia hit the two-run homer that gave Bradford, David Robertson and Kirby Yates all they needed. Yates has 31 saves as he heads toward free agency and has positioned himself nicely for the offseason.

Garcia has 16 RBIs this month, but he’s hitting only .196. He’s under contract for 2025 and has work to do on his swing. He also might have some work to do on his right knee. One might not be possible without the other.

Strong candidates

Double A Frisco outfielder Alejandro Osuna is the Rangers Minor League Player of the Year, and it’s hard to argue with his selection.

In addition to an impressive season at the plate, he’s good on the bases and in the field and is one of the reasons Frisco is still alive in the Texas League Playoffs. Game 2 is tonight at Riders Field.

He was the choice over shortstop Sebastian Walcott, the Rangers’ top prospect. Take away April, and Walcott had a fantastic season. Another candidate was first baseman Blaine Crim, who continues to hit but continues to languish at Triple A Round Rock.

The Round Rock season ends Sunday at Tacoma as the Rangers head to the West Coast for their final road trip. It would be a short strip for him to join the big-league club.

Crim hit his 20th homer of the season Wednesday, giving him 20-homer seasons in each of his four full professional seasons. The Rangers have had their chances to promote him but haven’t taken them. They know he deserves a chance but haven’t given it to him.

It doesn’t make much sense.

Support DIFD

Today is North Texas Giving Day, a once-a-year experience in which the community comes together to support various causes across the area. Do It For Durrett is one of them, and we’re asking for your help.

Click on the Twitter embed or click here to make a donation.

Since we started 10 years ago, we’ve raised well north of $1 million and are approaching 200 families helped after their lives have been turned upside down by the sudden loss of a parent.

We do this in honor of Richard Durrett, the lovable DFW sports personality who passed away suddenly in June 2014 at age 38. He left behind a pregnant wife, Kelly, and two young kids.

Kelly is one of the six board members, none of whom with a background in running a charity, who come together a few times each year to raise funds. This is one of them.

The big one is scheduled for Nov. 8. A Decade of Giving is a golf/concern doubleheader. The golf will be played at Grapevine Golf Course, and the Josh Abbott Band will perform that night at Texas Live!

To get tickets:

VIP seats or the opportunity to sponsor a Decade of Giving, click here.

For general admission, click here.

Doggy video!

Or raised by Pepe Le Pew (look it up, kids). Enjoy.

Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com