DENVER — The Rangers intend to start left-handed pitcher Tyler Alexander — not right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker — against the Colorado Rockies Tuesday night at Coors Field.
Rocker, who was originally scheduled to start, is still expected to pitch in Tuesday’s game. He has an 11.25 ERA in the first inning of games this season but a 2.45 ERA in all other frames. His .368 first-inning batting average against is the fourth-highest league wide among players who’ve thrown at least 100 pitches in that frame this season. It drops to a .229 batting average against in innings two through six.
The 26-year-old former first-round draft pick has a 4.34 ERA in eight starts this season.
Alexander will effectively operate as an opener against a Rockies lineup that does have meaningfully worse splits against left-handers compared to right-handers this season. The 31-year-old has started 57 games in his big league career, hasn’t pitched since last Wednesday vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks and can throw multiple innings, if needed. The Rangers needed to use five of their eight relievers in Monday’s series opener after left-handed pitcher MacKenzie Gore exited early with what was classified as lat tightness.