Rangers' MacKenzie Gore struggles with curveball in loss to Mariners

The lefty's flaws that have kept him from ace status were on display as he allowed two two-run homers on 0-2 curveballs.

Apr. 20, 2026 at 12:33am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the motion and energy of a baseball pitcher's delivery and a batter's swing, with overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange colors.A cubist interpretation of the pitching duel between the Rangers' MacKenzie Gore and the Mariners' Bryan Woo, highlighting the flaws and adjustments that defined their matchup.Dallas Today

Texas Rangers starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore struggled in his last two starts, including a 5-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Sunday. Gore allowed a pair of two-run homers on 0-2 curveballs, accounting for four of the five runs charged to him. The Rangers have played 16 of their first 22 games on the road this season, going 8-8 in those games, a better road record than last year.

Why it matters

Gore's struggles in his last two starts, after showing ace potential in his first three, raise questions about the flaws that have kept him from reaching that level consistently. The Rangers' improved road performance this season, compared to last, is an encouraging sign as they prepare for a tough schedule with 50 of their first 87 games on the road.

The details

In Gore's first three starts, the Rangers saw the ace potential that led them to trade for him. But in his last two starts, the flaws that have kept him from that level were on display. On Sunday, he allowed a pair of two-run homers on 0-2 curveballs to account for four of the five runs charged to him. Manager Skip Schumaker said Gore went from six walks in his previous start to just one, but may have overcompensated by trying to be too fine with his pitches. Of the seven hits Gore allowed, five came with two strikes, four of them after he'd gotten ahead 0-2.

  • On April 19, 2026, the Rangers lost 5-2 to the Mariners.
  • In his previous start on April 11, 2026, Gore walked six batters, matching a career high, and left after 4 2/3 innings.

The players

MacKenzie Gore

Texas Rangers starting pitcher who has shown ace potential but struggled in his last two starts.

Skip Schumaker

Texas Rangers manager.

Rob Refsnyder

Seattle Mariners leadoff hitter who hit a home run on the first pitch of the game against Gore.

J.P. Crawford

Seattle Mariners player who hit a two-run home run off Gore.

Randy Arozarena

Seattle Mariners player who hit a two-run home run off Gore.

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What they’re saying

“When you give up three homers, you put your team in a tough spot. The first pitch of the game, that's one I can live with. But the other two, I just didn't execute pitches.”

— MacKenzie Gore, Texas Rangers Pitcher

“He went from six walks to one in the last start to this one, so we'll take that. I feel like he made the adjustment to get inside the strike zone and then maybe too much inside the strike zone with the 0-2 pitches. So, he'll continue to work on that.”

— Skip Schumaker, Texas Rangers Manager

What’s next

The Rangers will have a 10-day, 9-game homestand starting Tuesday against Pittsburgh, which will give them a chance to get their starting rotation, led by Gore, back on track.

The takeaway

While the Rangers' improved road performance this season is encouraging, Gore's struggles in his last two starts highlight the flaws that have kept him from reaching ace status consistently. The team will need him to regain his dominant form if they hope to contend in the tough AL West.