Notes: 2021 schedule, COVID recovery, Santana
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ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are scheduled to play the Blue Jays in their 2021 home opener on April 5 at Globe Life Field.
The Rangers’ 50th season in Texas begins with a three-game series against the Royals from April 1-4 (with April 2 off) at Kansas City, according to the schedule released Thursday by Major League Baseball. That will mark the first time the Rangers open on the road since 2015 at Oakland.
The Rangers’ first homestand will consist of a three-game series against the Blue Jays (April 5-7) and a three-game set against the Padres (April 9-11). The Rangers previously faced the Blue Jays in home openers in 1986, ’90 and 2010.
• Rangers' 2021 regular-season schedule | 2020 schedule
The Rangers will face the National League West in Interleague Play. In addition to hosting the Padres, they will play three games against the Dodgers at Los Angeles from June 11-13. They also will have two-game home-and-home series against the Giants and D-backs and three-game home-and-home series against the Rockies.
The Red Sox are scheduled to make their first 2021 visit to Globe Life Field for four games from April 29-May 2. The Yankees are scheduled for four games at Arlington from May 17-20.
The Rangers end the regular season at home with three games against the Angels from Sept. 28-30 and the Indians from Oct. 1-3.
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Gallo, Martin updates
The Rangers remain without outfielder Joey Gallo and pitcher Brett Martin as both continue their recovery from COVID-19. General manager Jon Daniels offered positive reports on both Thursday afternoon.
“Both guys are feeling good,” Daniels said. “Joey has never developed any symptoms. Brett, thankfully, the mild symptoms that he did have mostly subsided. He reports feeling better every day. That’s been a positive. I am hopeful they won’t be out too much longer.”
Outfielder Eli White remains sidelined with left oblique muscle tightness and is scheduled to have an MRI. Rookie third baseman Sherten Apostel started in the intrasquad game on Thursday after being delayed at the start of camp while waiting for the results of his intake testing.
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Tough going for Santana
Center fielder Danny Santana, going up against Corey Kluber in the Rangers' intrasquad game Thursday, was 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in the intrasquad game. He is 0-for-13 with 10 strikeouts in Summer Camp.
“I think he’s just getting his timing back,” manager Chris Woodward said. “I’m not overly concerned. I know he’s getting a little frustrated with a couple of the pitches. Because we don’t have umpires, we’ve kind of -- I wouldn’t say ‘stuck it to him’ on a few of those calls -- but a few of those calls were off the plate.
“He’s in a good place mentally. I know he’s working on some things with his swing with Luis [Ortiz] and our hitting guys. I’m not too worried about it. I’d like to see him get a little bit of success for his own mindset. But, overall, I think he’s in a good spot.”
Rangers beat
• The Rangers used six relievers after Mike Minor and Kluber pitched in the intrasquad game Thursday. Rookie right-hander Wes Benjamin pitched two scoreless innings to stand out among the group.
• Cody Allen, José Leclerc and Jimmy Herget each pitched a scoreless inning. Nick Goody, who did not allow a run over six innings during Spring Training, allowed three runs in his inning. Jesse Chavez allowed two.
• There were five home runs hit on Thursday: Rougned Odor, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Andy Ibáñez, Yadiel Rivera and Tim Federowicz.
• Outfielder Scott Heineman was 2-for-3 with a walk. One of the hits was a triple off Leclerc. Heineman is 8-for-13 in Summer Camp intrasquad games.
• Odor on how he will spend his time on the road this season: “Me? I'm just going to bring my PlayStation so I can stay in my room all day and all night.”