Analysis: Heim and Kyle Higashioka have essentially alternated starts at catcher to begin the season, though Saturday will be the second consecutive game that Heim has begun on the bench despite going 4-for-13 with two homers in his four outings.

Analysis: Langford knocked in Texas' fourth run with a sacrifice fly and later stole his first base of the season after getting hit by a pitch. He recorded 19 steals (caught three times) during his rookie 2024 campaign.

Analysis: Higashioka knocked in the first of four runs Rangers scored in the third inning. He continues an equitable share of the catching position with Jonah Heim. Each player has started four games. Higashioka is batting .250 (3-for-12) with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored.

Analysis: The 26-year-old switch hitter hasn't done much at the plate so far -- he's batting .182 (4-for-22) with zero extra-base hits and a 1:6 BB:K -- but Taveras is at least making an impact with his legs. After swiping a career-high 23 bags in 2024, he's gone 4-for-4 in steal attempts through his first seven games of the campaign. Evan Carter has just one hit in 17 at-bats to begin his season at Triple-A Round Rock, so Taveras seems to have a firm hold on the starting center field spot in Texas for now.

Analysis: The utility infielder took Zack Littell deep in the seventh inning to account for the game's final run. Smith was getting the start at third base and batting seventh, and he figures to see the bulk of the playing time at the hot corner while Josh Jung (neck) is sidelined. Through seven appearances this season, Smith is batting .250 (4-for-16) with a homer, a steal, two RBI and three runs.

Analysis: The 33-year-old righty has only delivered double-digit saves once before in his career, when he racked up 18 for Atlanta in 2019, but Jackson is well on his way to topping that total in 2025. He's converted four straight save chances to begin the campaign while posting a 5:2 K:BB in 4.1 innings, although a shaky performance in a non-save situation on Opening Day still has him saddled with a 6.23 ERA. The Rangers have other ninth-inning options if he falters, but for now Jackson appears to be following the trail blazed by Kirby Yates in last year's bullpen.

Analysis: The win was Mahle's first in two years, as his last one came as a member of the Twins on April 3, 2023 -- less than a month before he was shut down ahead of Tommy John surgery. The right-hander made only eight starts combined the last two seasons, but he looks healthy to begin 2025 as he attempts to reclaim some of the promise he showed with the Reds earlier in his career. Mahle will take a 1.35 ERA and 8:6 K:BB through 6.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Cubs.

Analysis: The original plan was for Corbin to join the Rangers around April 11, but Jack Leiter's (finger) move to the injured list Friday has forced the team to work a bit ahead of schedule. Assuming he slides right into Leiter's place in the rotation, Corbin is on track to make his season debut Tuesday against the Cubs.

Analysis: Leiter has gotten off to an excellent start to the season, allowing only one earned run across 10 innings. However, he exited his start prematurely Wednesday due to the issue. He'll now be sidelined until at least April 17, as the move is retroactive to April 2.

Analysis: The 24-year-old exited Wednesday's start due to the blister and could probably pitch through the issue, but Texas is considering whether to instead allow it to heal up over the next couple weeks. Patrick Corbin is expected step into the starting rotation if Leiter ends up missing any time.

Analysis: Jung has also done some hitting as he works his way back from neck spasms, and he's set to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco on Saturday, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. He is eligible for activation from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, and he has a good shot to return that day. Josh Smith has been the primary third baseman for the Rangers since Jung was shelved.

Analysis: Kyle Higashioka will make another start behind the plate, catching for Tyler Mahle. Through eight games, each catcher has been in the starting lineup four times. Heim is slashing .308/.308/.769 with two home runs, two RBI and two runs scored through 13 plate appearances on the young season.

Analysis: For the second straight day, the Rangers made one run enough. On Tuesday, Wyatt Langford's solo home run was the difference, and Smith's fourth-inning, two-out double plated Joc Pederson for the game's lone run Wednesday. Smith made his second start at shortstop and likely would have had a third if not for a minor quadriceps injury. The Rangers appear to be managing Corey Seager early in the season; he's played five of seven games including one at DH. In addition to shortstop, Smith is getting run at third base while Josh Jung (neck) is on the injured list.

Analysis: Garcia entered with none out and a runner on first base in the seventh. After Matt McLain stole second base, the left-hander had to deal with the most dangerous part of the order with a runner in scoring position, and he was up to the challenge. Garcia struck out Elly De La Cruz and Gavin Lux swinging before inducing a harmless groundout (72.8 exit velocity). It was the third hold of the season for Garcia, whose four appearances have come the seventh or eighth innings with Texas ahead by a run or tied.

Analysis: The right-hander has now notched a clean save in three straight appearances since he surrendered three runs over one-third of an inning Opening Day. It'll take a bit for Jackson's ERA and WHIP to level out, but he appears to have settled in as the favorite for saves in Texas. Veteran Chris Martin, who worked the eighth inning Wednesday, is also in the mix and has converted the Rangers' only other save this year.

Analysis: Leiter left the game in line for the win, and he likely would have been available to cover another inning or two if the blister issue hadn't cropped up. The right-hander faced just one batter over the minimum through five frames, giving up one hit and no walks while striking out six over 70 pitches. The Rangers have described his removal as precautionary, so as long as the blister doesn't present any discomfort during his between-starts bullpen session, Leiter should be ready to take the hill the next time his turn in the rotation comes up Tuesday in Chicago versus the Cubs.

Analysis: Seager's calf issue first popped up late in spring training and he has been playing through nagging soreness. The 30-year-old has received two days off so far -- including Wednesday -- and Grant suspects Seager will continue to sit out day games after night games. Seager is just 3-for-17 with zero extra-base hits in the early going this season, and it's possible the calf has contributed to the slow start.

Analysis: Seager is receiving a routine day off for Wednesday's afternoon contest. The Rangers are going with Josh Smith at shortstop and Ezequiel Duran at third base in the series finale.

Analysis: Pederson had a first-inning double but was stranded at second base. The lefty batter is off to a slow start for his new team with Tuesday's double being just his second hit in 15 at-bats.

Analysis: Langford's solo shot in the first inning held up as the decisive run, as neither team could do much with the bats. He had two of the game's eight hits and the home run was the second of the season for Langford, who had a game-tying homer in Sunday's 3-2 win over Boston. The outfielder has hit safely in five of six games so far this year, going 7-for-23 along with a walk and three runs.