The Texas Rangers are running out of time to turn flashes of potential into a consistent postseason push as the team sits on the outside of the American League playoff picture.
Currently sitting at 61-61 and 3.5 games out of the final AL wild card spot, the Rangers have struggled to find a steady footing for much of the summer.
A positive run differential of +57 shows the team has the talent to compete, but long stretches of inconsistency at the plate and in the bullpen have kept them from reeling off the winning streak needed to climb back into the playoff picture.
As a whole, the Rangers’ pitching unit has put together the clear best earned run average in the entire MLB at just 3.32 while also ranking second in the league in allowed hits at only 911.
On the other hand, the offensive issues have been rampant for the Rangers this season.
Texas ranks just 24th in the league in total runs with only 495 for the entire season, resulting in an average of only 4.06 runs per game.
Additionally, the offense has only managed to pick up 944 hits on the season to rank 25th in the league, while also only collecting 126 total home runs, which ranks as the 20th best in the MLB.
July’s trade deadline delivered bullpen reinforcements in Merrill Kelly, Danny Coulombe, and Phil Maton, moves aimed at stabilizing a relief corps that has struggled to lock down late leads, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Moving forward, the Rangers’ offense must begin to string together high-scoring outings to help propel this team into the final wild-card spot.
Despite the frustrations, there are signs the team could still make a move if the offense clicks.
The defensive dominance through the first two-thirds of the season has carried this team to just outside the playoff picture, with small offensive improvements seemingly being the key to moving this team into the top six in the AL.
The Rangers’ upcoming schedule, which includes matchups with the AL-leading Toronto Blue Jays, postseason-contending Kansas City Royals, and wild card hopeful Cleveland Guardians, offers both a daunting test and an opportunity to close the gap.
With six weeks left in the regular season, Texas needs more than just flashes of potential, but a sustained run that has thus far eluded them.