The Texas Rangers are preparing to host the Cleveland Guardians on Monday at Billy Parker Stadium in Surprise, Arizona, marking the first meeting between the two teams this spring. The game is scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. Mountain Time (2:05 p.m. Central Time), continuing the Rangers’ home stretch of spring training.
Corey Seager returns to the Rangers’ starting lineup after missing several games due to illness, boosting the team’s roster as they seek to build momentum during the Cactus League schedule.
Recent Performance and Team Records
The Rangers, holding a 6-5 record, come off a win against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. Tyler Wade extended his hitting streak to six games with a single in that matchup, raising his batting average to .600 for spring training. Cameron Cauley and Aaron Zavala each contributed two hits in the victory. On the mound, Jacob Latz pitched three innings, allowing two runs on three hits without issuing a walk, while striking out one batter.
The Cleveland Guardians enter the game with a 5-6 record as they look to improve their standing in the league’s early season play.
Starting Pitcher Update: Austin Gomber to Take the Mound
Austin Gomber, a right-handed pitcher, is scheduled to start for the Rangers after Nathan Eovaldi was scratched from Monday’s game. Gomber, a non-roster invitee, is navigating his first season with Texas after pitching for the Colorado Rockies last year, where he posted an 0-7 record and a 7.49 ERA over 12 appearances.
In his only spring appearance so far, Gomber allowed five hits and three earned runs in just 1.1 innings, ultimately taking the loss. He continues to get reps on the Rangers’ practice fields in Surprise to prepare for upcoming outings.
Lineup Highlights with Seager’s Return
The Rangers’ batting order features Evan Carter in left field, Wyatt Langford patrolling center field, and Corey Seager back at shortstop. Joc Pederson is slotted as the designated hitter, followed by first baseman Jake Burger and second baseman Josh Smith. Sam Haggerty fills right field, while Jonah Bride covers third base and Jose Herrera is behind the plate.
Seager’s return is a critical boost to the Rangers’ infield and offensive lineup after his absence since February 26 due to illness.
Current Injury Status for Key Rangers Players
The team is managing multiple injuries as the regular season approaches. Corey Seager has overcome illness and is resuming play. Third baseman Josh Jung remains sidelined with a Grade 1 adductor strain and will sit out until at least March 10. Similarly, infielder Justin Foscue is on the sidelines with a left hamstring injury, also expected to be out through March 10.
infielder Cody Freeman is dealing with a lumbar stress reaction that will keep him away from play for several weeks. Pitching prospect Winston Santos sustained a fracture in his left wrist and will remain in a brace for at least two more weeks but is permitted to continue throwing. Santos was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday.
Left-hander Cody Bradford is in the process of ramping up to throw from a mound following elbow surgery last year. Jordan Montgomery, the 2023 World Series-winning pitcher for Texas, is recovering from Tommy John surgery and aims to return by the All-Star break.
Additionally, shortstop prospect Sebastian Walcott will miss the entire spring training season due to an upcoming elbow surgery and is expected to miss most of the 2026 season. Non-roster invitee pitcher Nabil Crismatt has been sidelined with an early camp elbow injury and has been reassigned to minor league camp, as has Reliever Declan Cronin, who will recover following Tommy John surgery through 2026.
Monday’s Player Movements and Roster Changes
“Rangers transactions for Monday:-RHP Winston Santos optioned to Frisco (AA)-RHP Emiliano Teodo optioned to Round Rock (AAA)-Reassigned to minor league camp: RHP Nabil Crismatt, RHP Declan Cronin, OF Trevor Hauver” — Texas Rangers PR
The Rangers shifted several players on March 2, including optioning Winston Santos to Double-A Frisco and Emiliano Teodo to Triple-A Round Rock. Nabil Crismatt, Declan Cronin, and outfielder Trevor Hauver were reassigned to the minor league camp as part of roster adjustments ahead of the regular season.
Spring Training Game Schedule and Locations
The Rangers continue to balance home and away games throughout spring training. Most home games are held at Surprise Stadium/Billy Parker Field in Surprise, Arizona, with start times varying between Mountain and Central Time zones. Through March 7, Surprise operates on Mountain Time, leading to a one-hour difference from Texas’ Central Time, shifting to Pacific Time thereafter, which changes the difference to two hours.
Key upcoming games include matches against the Cleveland Guardians (today), Brazil in the World Baseball Classic, the Kansas City Royals, and the Seattle Mariners, among others. The team also faces split-squad contests and prospect showcase matchups, all designed to assess player readiness and finalize depth before the season opener.
Significance of Seager’s Return and Outlook for the Rangers
Corey Seager’s inclusion in Monday’s lineup marks an important step in the Rangers’ spring training as they move closer to the regular season. His return from illness offers a stabilizing presence in the middle of the infield and adds offensive depth. Meanwhile, manager decisions regarding pitcher usage, such as Austin Gomber starting in place of Nathan Eovaldi, reflect ongoing adjustments to optimize the roster.
As the Rangers navigate injuries to key players like Josh Jung, Justin Foscue, and Winston Santos, the team is cautiously managing recovery timelines while preparing younger talent for Major League opportunities. The upcoming games will be critical in determining the final roster composition and assessing the team’s competitive potential heading into the regular season.
Nathan Eovaldi (originally scheduled to start vs Cleveland today) will pitch in an intrasquad on the backfields in Surprise today. Austin Gomber will start the main game
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) March 2, 2026
Rangers transactions for Monday:
-RHP Winston Santos optioned to Frisco (AA)
-RHP Emiliano Teodo optioned to Round Rock (AAA)
-Reassigned to minor league camp: RHP Nabil Crismatt, RHP Declan Cronin, OF Trevor Hauver— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) March 2, 2026
