Cody Bradford Set for First Rangers Start Since 2024 Against San Francisco

Cody Bradford will make his first start for the Texas Rangers since 2024 on Wednesday after Manager Skip Schumaker confirmed the left-hander's return.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Left-hander Cody Bradford will make his first start for the Texas Rangers since the conclusion of the 2024 season this Wednesday afternoon. Manager Skip Schumaker announced the rotation move following the Rangers' 5-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night, which snapped a season-high six-game losing streak. Bradford, who underwent internal brace surgery in June 2025, will start the series finale instead of making an additional rehab appearance. The return comes as Texas looks to regain ground in the AL West after the Monday trade deadline passed without the acquisition of any new starting pitchers.

Bradford’s path back to the mound involved a recovery period that extended beyond initial expectations. After his first Triple-A start on April 2, he was shut down for three weeks due to elbow tightness. He eventually resumed competition three months later, pitching four minor league games in July. During those nine innings of work, the southpaw struck out 16 batters, issued two walks, and surrendered only one run. In his last full season in 2024, Bradford posted a 6-3 record with a 3.54 ERA across 14 games, including 13 starts.

Championship Pedigree and Statistical History

Bradford played a specific role in the Rangers' 2023 World Series title run as a rookie. During that postseason, he maintained a 1.17 ERA and a 1-0 record over five appearances out of the bullpen. His regular-season contributions that year included 20 games and eight starts, where he finished 4-3 with a 5.30 ERA. Before his 2025 surgery, he entered spring training as a primary candidate for the starting rotation.

Jordan Montgomery Season Debut Looms

The Rangers are also preparing for the season debut of left-hander Jordan Montgomery, who is recovering from a second elbow reconstruction surgery. Montgomery, 33, recently threw five scoreless innings for Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday. Over his last two minor league starts, he has allowed just one run in 9 1/3 innings of work. Since mid-June, the veteran has made eight total minor league appearances while working his way back to the active roster after re-signing with Texas as a free agent this past spring.

Montgomery’s history with the franchise includes a dominant stretch following his 2023 trade from St. Louis. He went 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA in 11 regular-season starts for Texas before going 3-1 during the championship postseason. His playoff highlights included winning two ALCS games and providing 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief during the Game 7 clincher against Houston. His lone postseason loss occurred during Game 2 of the World Series against Arizona.

Veteran Rotation Depth and Career Totals

Following his 2023 stint in Texas, Montgomery spent the 2024 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he went 8-7 with a 6.23 ERA. He subsequently missed the entire 2025 campaign following Tommy John surgery. Across an eight-year career spanning the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Rangers, and Diamondbacks, Montgomery has compiled a 46-41 record. He holds a career 4.03 ERA through 166 total MLB games, 161 of which were starts. The Rangers now look to these two returning left-handers to stabilize a rotation that remained unchanged during the recent trade window.