The Texas Rangers (32-18) and Arizona Diamondbacks (28-22) will play in a two-game double header of an interleague series matchup on Monday at Chase Field. The first pitches are scheduled for 3:40 p.m and 9:40 p.m. ET and will air live on Fox Arizona or online here for free.
The AL-best Rangers have won eight of 10 on the road, though they had a four-game winning streak snapped with a 4-3, 13-inning loss at Seattle on Sunday. Before the loss, Texas had scored 55 runs in its previous nine contests away from home. The Rangers have hit 20 homers in their last 10 road games.
Tyler Skaggs will make his season debut for Arizona in the opener. After a slow start at Triple-A Reno this season, the left-hander has posted a 2.66 ERA and 22 strikeouts over his last 20 1/3 innings. He went 1/3 with a 5.83 ERA in six starts for Arizona as a rookie.
"He's throwing the ball better," manager Kirk Gibson told the team's official website. "I can't tell you exactly what the deciding factor was for picking him, but we made the decision as an organization."
Rangers lefty Martin Perez will also make his season debut after going 1-4 with a 5.88 ERA in six starts in 2012. Perez pitched seven shutout innings in his last outing with Triple-A Round Rock, but he's posted a 6.05 ERA in four minor league starts this season.
The second pitching matchup will include Rangers ace Yu Darvish (7-2). Darvish leads the major leagues with 8.24 runs support per game. However, he saw little of that during his 1-0 loss to Oakland on Tuesday. "I've been really pampered with all the run support I've been getting," Darvish told ESPN, who leads the majors with 91 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings.
Trevor Cahill (3-5) will face Darvish in the evening matchup. He has faired well against Texas, going 9-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 15 starts.
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