Texas Rangers Facing Uphill Battle to Avoid Historic Slide
The Texas Rangers, last year's World Series champions, find themselves in a precarious position as they attempt to avoid an unwanted place in baseball history. With just 12 games left in the regular season, the Rangers need to secure 10 wins to ensure they don't become the first defending champions to end the season with a losing record since the 2014 Boston Red Sox, who finished at 71-91.
The team that clinched a postseason berth at Game 161 last year has experienced a significant decline in performance. Scoring has been particularly problematic, with the Rangers managing only 4.15 runs per game this season compared to 5.44 runs last season. This drop is reflected in their team OPS+, which has plummeted from 116 to 92.
One glaring issue has been the regression of the team’s designated hitters. Last season, Rangers' designated hitters combined for a .220/.315/.388 slash line with 26 home runs. This year, those numbers have dwindled to a .200/.263/.309 slash line with just 13 home runs. The absence of Josh Jung, who missed four months due to a broken wrist, has further exacerbated these struggles. The team has had to rely on players like Travis Jankowski, who ranks fourth on the team in designated hitter starts, to fill the gaps.
The pitching staff has also been hit hard by injuries. Josh deGrom made his season debut only on September 13, and Max Scherzer, who underwent back surgery, missed the first few weeks of the season. Though Scherzer returned on June 23 and made eight starts, a shoulder issue sidelined him again in late July. Meanwhile, Tyler Mahle, who had Tommy John surgery last May, managed just three starts this year before another shoulder issue took him out of the rotation.
The difficulties haven't been limited to just those players. Cody Bradford missed over three months with a back injury, Nathan Eovaldi was sidelined nearly a month with a groin strain, and Jon Gray dealt with groin and foot injuries that led to three separate stints on the injured list.
In light of these struggles, Rangers' manager Bruce Bochy summed up the team's plight: "It's been talked about so much, how difficult it is to repeat. There's been a number of reasons why we're not where we want to be. Every season is different, it takes a life of its own, whether guys aren't having their normal years or injuries. Our goal is to finish strong here."
Despite the challenges, there have been some bright spots. Evan Carter, who made his MLB debut on September 8 last year, posted an impressive .306/.413/.645 slash line in 23 regular-season games and followed it up with a .300/.417/.500 performance in the postseason. Additionally, Wyatt Langford, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, has shown promise with 11 home runs through 150 games this season.
Front office stability has been another positive note, as Chris Young's contract was recently extended. While Nathan Eovaldi's future remains uncertain, assuming he doesn’t pick up his $20 million player option, other mainstays like Kirby Yates, now 37, and 39-year-old David Robertson might not be around much longer. The team faces potential free agency losses as well, with Andrew Heaney, José Leclerc, and Max Scherzer all without contracts for next season.
Chris Young is optimistic about the future, particularly regarding Tyler Mahle: "I think before the surgery, Tyler was really coming into his own, and a couple years ago he had a tremendous season. We're excited about where he is in his career with his age, the recovery he's going to make, and the ability to hopefully help our team in the second half of this season and certainly in 2025 as a mid-rotation starter and with upside potential there."
As the Rangers gear up for the final stretch of games, the next few weeks will be pivotal. The team needs a near-perfect run to avoid a losing record and salvage what has been a tumultuous season. Given the myriad of issues they’ve faced, from injuries to underperformance, it will require a collective effort to finish strong and avoid an ignominious place in the annals of baseball history.