The Rangers head into Tuesday night’s opener against the Nationals with the kind of urgency that comes from a packed wild card race and a schedule that still offers a chance to climb. Texas sits at 61-64, right in the middle of a scramble where seven teams are separated by just two games for the final American League wild card spot.
The Yankees and Red Sox have enough breathing room to look safe in the top two spots. After that, it’s chaos.
The Rangers are tied with the Orioles and Tigers for the final berth, and the picture shifted again Monday night. Baltimore dropped its game to the Rays, which briefly pushed Texas into the last spot on the tiebreaker, but Detroit’s win over Pittsburgh turned it back into a three-way tie and sent the Orioles back to the front of that pack.
Toronto is only a half-game behind at 61-64. Minnesota is one game back at 60-65, with Cleveland right there too.
Seattle sits two games off the pace at 59-66. Not one of the teams in this chase is over .500.
Texas gets six games this week to try to move the needle: three against Washington and then three more against the Angels. That second series carries some extra baggage after Los Angeles took three of four from the Rangers in Anaheim last week. The club also remains within striking distance in the American League West, where it trails the Astros by two games at 63-62.
There was at least one bit of good news for Texas on Tuesday. Danny Jansen was activated from the 60-day injured list after missing 64 games with a right forearm strain. He had been out since early June.
Tuesday’s opener is set for 7:05 p.m., with Cal Quantrill taking the ball for Texas against Nationals left-hander Jackson Kent. Quantrill is 4-4 with a 3.44 ERA, while Kent is 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA.
The lineup should be shaped by the matchup, and Wyatt Langford is likely to be at the top of it against a lefty. Texas has been waiting for him to get going again.
Over his last 15 games, he’s slashing .143/.311/.286 with three home runs and 10 RBI. Over his last 30 games, the average sits at .216.
The Rangers need that to change.
Justin Foscue is another name to watch in the mix. His production against left-handed pitching has been strong enough to make him a lineup fit. Against lefties, he’s slashing .292/.370/.551, and his batting average in that split is more than .100 points better than what he’s done against right-handers.
Then there’s Brandon Nimmo, who has given Texas a much more dangerous version of himself over the longer stretch. In his last seven games, he’s slashed .222/.276/.259 with a home run and two RBI.
But over his last 30, he’s at .310/.366/.496 with four home runs and 15 RBI. That’s the version Texas needs this week.
In Other News...
Wyatt Langford Said What Frustrated Rangers Fans Have Heard Enough
The Rangers keep insisting there is still time for their season to turn, even as the losses keep piling up in spots that have made the optimism hard to swallow. Wyatt Langford added to that refrain after the latest postgame, speaking about the future with the kind of confidence Texas has heard from players and staff all summer, while the club tries to stay afloat in a crowded playoff race.
It is a familiar message, but it is landing differently now because the results have not matched it. Texas has dropped five of seven against lower-ranked opponents, sits at 61-64 and carries a minus-47 run differential, a combination that has left fans increasingly skeptical of upbeat talk without a cleaner stretch of baseball to back it up. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Prospect David Davalillo Is Suddenly In The Rotation Conversation
David Davalillos rise through the Rangers system has taken on a little more urgency this month. The right-hander, who is already on the 40-man roster, has been noticeably better in August for the Round Rock Express, and that steady progress was enough to earn him Pacific Coast League pitcher of the week honors. For a club always keeping one eye on the next arm, that kind of momentum tends to get noticed quickly.
The timing matters, too, because Texas has been juggling injuries and workload concerns in the rotation. With the big-league staff thin, Davalillo has moved from intriguing depth piece to a legitimate name in the conversation if the Rangers need help soon. For now, he is still waiting on the next step, but the path from Round Rock to Arlington is looking a lot shorter than it did a few weeks ago. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Catching Shakeup Forces A Tough Roster Decision
Danny Jansen is back on the Rangers roster after being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, giving Texas a healthier look behind the plate as it tries to stabilize its catching group. The move comes as the club continues sorting through the ripple effects of injuries and roster churn, with Danny Jansen now available to pair with Elias Daz as the team leans on its veteran experience at catcher.
The corresponding decision was a difficult one, with Austin Wynns losing his spot as the Rangers made room for Jansen. Elsewhere, left-hander Marco Gonzales cleared outright waivers after being designated for assignment and chose free agency, another reminder that Texas is still managing the margins of its roster even as one key piece returns to help settle the catching situation. [Read more 🡒]