Right hander Tyler Mahle (6-3, 2.34 ERA) will return to take the ball for Texas in the opener of the three-game series after being out with shoulder fatigue since June 10. The Rangers (79-74), who have nine games left, are on the ropes in the hunt for a wild-card spot. After this six-game homestead with Miami and Minnesota, the Rangers will conclude the regular season with a three-game series at Cleveland. That might be a lot to ask with series against three winning teams (Texas, Philadelphia and the New York Mets) in the offing. In two career starts against the Rangers, Junk is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA across eight innings.