It's scary backing a rookie in his MLB debut versus the potent Braves, but Texas lefty Cody Bradford is up to the task. He posted a 0.91 ERA over 39.2 innings in Triple-A with opponents batting .156 against him. Braves starter Charlie Morton, 39, has an expected ERA of 4.79, so he's been somewhat fortunate thus far. The Rangers are 12-6 at home, own the second-best run differential in MLB and shouldn't be such sizable underdogs.

Would have preferred if Corey Seager were activated off the injured list tonight but it apparently will be at least one more game. The Rangers have been playing just fine without him, while Atlanta enters having lost four in a row. Charlie Morton's ERA is near 4.00 on the road. Cody Bradford makes his big-league debut for the Rangers and he had a 0.91 ERA in Triple-A this year. He may only get a turn through the lineup. As for the Texas lineup, Nate Lowe has a 13-game hitting streak and Jonah Heim 12.

The Rangers lead the majors with 6.35 runs per game and they hit better at home than the road. They have slashed .275/.346/.488 in Globe Life Field this year. With several starters hurt and the struggles of Raisel Iglesias and A.J. Minter, the Braves' bullpen is ripe for the picking, too. There's only so much the 39-year-old Charlie Morton can do here. On the other side, the Rangers start Cody Bradford, who is making his MLB debut. It's a tough assignment for the southpaw. The Braves are fifth in the majors in runs per game and feast on lefties (.312/.376/.565 this season, so the entire lineup hits like an MVP, basically).