Texas Rangers Facing Uphill Battle to Avoid Historic Downfall
The Texas Rangers are on the brink of an unwelcome milestone. With just 12 games left in the season, they need to win 10 of them to avoid the humiliation of finishing with a losing record, a stark contrast to their triumphant World Series victory last year. Should they fail, they would become the first defending champions to conclude a season with a sub-.500 record since the 2014 Boston Red Sox, who ended with a 71-91 mark.
Offensive Struggles
One of the critical reasons for their downfall has been a significant dip in offensive production. Last season, the Rangers were an offensive juggernaut, scoring 5.44 runs per game. This season, that number has plummeted to 4.15 runs per game. Additionally, the team's OPS+ has dropped from an impressive 116 to a mediocre 92. This decline has been particularly evident among designated hitters, whose combined slash line has deteriorated from .220/.315/.388 with 26 home runs last season to a dismal .200/.263/.309 with only 13 home runs this year.
Injuries Take Their Toll
Injuries have also played a crucial role in derailing the Rangers' season. Josh Jung's four-month absence due to a broken wrist significantly weakened the lineup. Travis Jankowski, who ranks fourth on the team in designated hitter starts, has been a patch rather than a solution.
On the pitching side, the news has been equally grim. Jacob deGrom made his season debut as late as September 13, and Max Scherzer missed multiple weeks due to back surgery. Scherzer returned on June 23 but was again sidelined in late July by a shoulder issue. Tyler Mahle and Cody Bradford both struggled with injuries, with Mahle undergoing Tommy John surgery last May and Bradford missing over three months with a back injury. Nathan Eovaldi and Jon Gray were also frequent visitors to the injured list, dealing with groin strain and foot injuries respectively.
Manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged the difficulty of repeating a title-winning season, citing inconsistent player performance and injuries as major hurdles. "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," Bochy said.
Youthful Sparks and Future Hope
Despite the overarching gloom, there have been some bright spots. Evan Carter, who made his MLB debut last September, recorded an impressive .306/.413/.645 slash line in 23 regular-season games and continued to perform well in the postseason with a .300/.417/.500 line. Wyatt Langford, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, has shown promise with 11 home runs through 150 games.
Chris Young's contract extension signifies the organization's trust in their leadership, and he remains optimistic about the team's future, especially with young talents coming up through the ranks. Young expressed confidence in Tyler Mahle’s potential comeback: "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."
Uncertain Roster Moves
The offseason will be critical for the Rangers. They will need to address several impending free agents, including Max Scherzer, Andrew Heaney, and José Leclerc. Nathan Eovaldi's contract situation is also a question mark, assuming he doesn't pick up his $20 million player option. Veterans Kirby Yates and David Robertson, at 37 and 39 years old respectively, may also be nearing the end of their careers.
The Rangers have an arduous path ahead to finish the season on a high note and avoid a historical blemish. Whether they can muster the strength to overturn the tide remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the road to redemption will require a collective effort, resilience, and perhaps a bit of the magic that accompanied their World Series triumph.