The Texas Rangers come home needing more than just a good series - they need a push that changes the math.
After taking two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend, Texas at least steadied itself after dropping two of three to the Seattle Mariners and the opener in Arizona. That left the Rangers with a much-needed series win, but the bigger issue hasn’t gone away. They’re still two games under .500, and the climb back into the postseason picture remains steep.
Now the focus shifts to Boston, with the Red Sox in town for a matchup that carries real weight for Texas. Boston is very likely headed to October, while the Rangers are still trying to improve their odds of getting back to the playoffs for the first time since winning the World Series in 2023.
The standings have also sharpened the pressure. The AL West has basically become a two-team race between Texas and the first-place Houston Astros, with the Mariners slipping back and both the Athletics and Los Angeles Angels already out of contention. That makes every Rangers result feel a little bigger, especially with Houston set to host the Kansas City Royals for three games.
The numbers reflect how much work Texas still has to do. According to FanGraphs, the Rangers have a 33.4% chance of making the playoffs, including a 22.7% chance of winning the AL West and a 10.7% chance of landing one of the three AL Wild Card spots. The Astros, meanwhile, enter Tuesday with a 78.5% chance of making the playoffs and a 75.4% chance of winning the division.
Those odds aren’t exactly friendly, and they shouldn’t be given the way Texas has played. Still, the series finale in Arizona showed a group that hasn’t packed it in.
The bullpen protected a narrow lead until Jacob Latz allowed two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Latz has been outstanding this season with a 2.06 ERA, but even that late wobble had Rangers fans on edge.
If Texas is going to make noise in this series and beyond, Corey Seager is the name to watch. He has a reputation for delivering in the biggest moments, with two World Series MVP awards to his name. With the postseason in view, Seager is the kind of bat the Rangers will need to keep swinging.
First pitch is set for 7:05 PM CDT, with Cody Bradford getting the start for Texas.
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Rangers Just Caught A Huge Break At The Perfect Time
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One of those breaks is built into the upcoming trip to Boston, where the Rangers will avoid two of the Red Soxs better pitchers. Still, there is no easy landing there because Sonny Gray is lined up for the series finale, and the larger test is whether Texas can take advantage of this opening before the calendar turns even tougher. [Read more 🡒]
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Burgers off-field profile has grown alongside his on-field role, and this nomination puts him in a group of players being judged on impact as much as production. The winner will be announced during the World Series, leaving Burger in the conversation for one of the sports most respected accolades and giving Texas another reminder that its reach can extend far past the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Draw A Desperate Red Sox Team With Plenty On The Line
The Red Sox are running out of runway, and the timing of their upcoming series adds another layer to a September stretch already packed with urgency. Boston enters with 12 games left in the regular season and a chance to keep pushing for position in the American League Wild Card race, where it sits at 82-68 and still has ground to make up on the Yankees for the top spot.
Before they turn to a three-game set with the Rays beginning Tuesday, the club has already mapped out its probable starters for the Rangers series, lining up Sandoval, Bennett and Gray. For Texas, it means facing a team that cant afford to waste innings, cant afford many missteps and will treat every game like it has postseason weight. [Read more 🡒]