The Texas Rangers are facing an uphill battle as the regular season comes to a close. To avoid the ignominy of becoming the first defending World Series champions to end the season with a losing record since the 2014 Boston Red Sox went 71-91, they need to win 10 of their final 12 games. Given the challenges they've faced this season, that task won't be easy.
Offensive Decline
The Rangers' offensive output has significantly diminished compared to last year. Last season, the team scored an impressive 5.44 runs per game, a stark contrast to the 4.15 runs per game they’ve managed this year. The team’s OPS+ has plummeted from 116 to 92, highlighting the wider offensive struggles. Designated hitters, who should be powerhouses, have seen their combined slash line dip dramatically from .220/.315/.388 with 26 home runs last year to .200/.263/.309 with just 13 home runs this season.
Injury Woes
Injuries have played a significant role in the Rangers' lackluster performance. Bruce Bochy noted, "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." Key players have spent considerable time on the injured list, exacerbating the situation.
Josh Jung's four-month absence due to a broken wrist has been a major setback. Travis Jankowski, who ranks fourth on the team in designated hitter starts, has also been unable to fill the gap left by injured starters. Jacob deGrom only made his season debut on September 13, and Max Scherzer, who missed the early weeks due to back surgery, was sidelined again in late July with a shoulder issue after just eight starts. Tyler Mahle, who was expected to bolster the rotation, underwent Tommy John surgery last May and managed only three starts before another shoulder issue ended his season prematurely.
Pitching Setbacks
The pitching staff has not been spared from the injury bug either. Cody Bradford missed more than three months with a back injury, Nathan Eovaldi was out nearly a month with a groin strain, and Jon Gray struggled with groin and foot injuries, visiting the injured list three separate times. Chris Young, whose contract was recently extended, remains optimistic about Tyler Mahle's future contributions. "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," Young said.
Key Players and Future Prospects
Not all is doom and gloom for the Rangers. Evan Carter, who made his MLB debut on September 8 last year, has provided a spark with a .306/.413/.645 slash line in 23 regular-season games and a .300/.417/.500 performance in the postseason. Wyatt Langford, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, has also shown promise with 11 home runs through 150 team games this season.
Amid these individual performances, questions about the future loom. Nathan Eovaldi, for instance, will need a new contract unless he picks up his $20 million player option. Several other players, including Andrew Heaney, José Leclerc, and Max Scherzer, are free agents, complicating the roster's long-term stability. Additionally, the advancing ages of key bullpen contributors like Kirby Yates (37) and David Robertson (39) add another layer of uncertainty.
Despite the setbacks, the Texas Rangers are determined to end the season on a positive note. Whether they can overcome their myriad challenges and finish strong remains to be seen, but the team’s resilience and glimpses of individual brilliance provide some hope for the future.