The Rangers don’t have much room to waste, and Friday gives them another shot to make up ground in a hurry.
Texas opens a three-game set against the Los Angeles Angels at home, coming off a rough stretch in Anaheim that flipped the temperature of the race. Last week, the Rangers played four games there on a seven-game road trip and dropped three of them, losses that helped wipe out their narrow edge in the AL wild card chase. Now they get the Angels back in their own park, and Texas will be looking for a cleaner response.
The standings leave the Rangers with two lanes into October. They’re one game behind the Houston Astros in the AL West at 63-65, and they’re also tied with the Minnesota Twins for the final AL wild card spot. At minimum, Texas needs to keep stacking series wins, and taking care of business against Los Angeles would fit that plan.
Friday’s game is set for 7:15 p.m. on Apple TV, with radio coverage on KRLD 1080 and KFLC 1270 for the Rangers and KLAA 830 for the Angels. Texas sends left-hander MacKenzie Gore (7-9, 4.45) to the mound against Angels left-hander Reid Detmers (4-8, 3.78).
A few Rangers bats stand out in this matchup. Brandon Nimmo has handled Detmers well, going 3-for-7 with a home run and an RBI. His overall form has dipped lately - he’s hitting .146 over his last seven games - but this is the kind of matchup that could get him going again.
Corey Seager brings a different profile. His career line against Detmers isn’t flashy, sitting at .217 with a home run and an RBI in 23 at-bats, but he’s arriving with momentum. Over his last seven games, Seager is slashing .458/.519/.833 with two home runs and three RBI, including a homer on Thursday.
Jarred Kelenic is another name to watch. Texas used Evan Carter against a lefty on Thursday, but Kelenic has the kind of split that makes him hard to ignore here.
He’s 2-for-4 against Detmers with an RBI, and the Rangers may have to decide whether to start him or use him later as a pinch-hitter. These are the kinds of small matchup calls that can matter a lot right now.
In Other News...
Rangers Suddenly Face A Jake Burger Lineup Problem
A tense night at the ballpark brought an immediate concern for Texas when Jake Burger left the game against the Angels after a pitch caught his left wrist. X-rays came back clean, which is obviously better than the alternative, but the diagnosis still left him with a left wrist contusion and the Rangers looking at how to fill the void at first base.
Burger has been one of the more important bats in the lineup, supplying 21 home runs and 73 RBIs before the injury stopped his night in the fifth inning. Even without a fracture, a wrist issue can linger for a hitter, and Texas now has to weigh lineup adjustments while waiting to learn how quickly he can get back to being himself. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Fans Got A Powerful Reminder Of Where It All Started
Before the Rangers took on the Angels at Globe Life Field, the organization made room to celebrate one of the most important teams in franchise history. The 1996 AL West champions were honored with autograph sessions, a luncheon and a ceremonial first pitch from Ken Hill, with Ivan Rodriguez behind the plate, giving fans a chance to reconnect with the group that helped push Texas into a new era.
The gathering carried extra weight because that 1996 club was the first in Rangers history to win a division title and a playoff game, a breakthrough that still resonates nearly three decades later. Several players and staff members from that team were on hand for the celebration, a reminder of where the franchise's winning tradition really started and how much those milestones still mean in Arlington. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Just Made An Offensive Gamble Fans Need To Watch
The Rangers added some needed pop by calling up catcher Logan OHoppe from Triple-A Round Rock, a move aimed squarely at giving the lineup a boost. It also came with a roster shakeup, as outfielder Jarred Kelenic was designated for assignment, a clear sign the club is willing to make a fairly sharp turn in search of more offense.
The timing matters, too, because Jake Burger took a pitch off his wrist and dealt with swelling, even though he remains available to play. Texas is trying to keep its bats moving while managing a few moving parts at once, and OHoppes arrival gives the club another option to lean on if the offense needs a lift in the days ahead. [Read more 🡒]