The Texas Rangers were one swing away from finishing off a three-game sweep of the Red Sox before Trevor Story spoiled the party with a three-run homer in the top of the eighth and handed Boston a 4-3 win. That loss came with Joc Pederson still out, missing his fifth straight game after suffering a fracture in his left hand on a hit by pitch.
Now the Rangers are moving into a big weekend set against the Blue Jays, and Pederson says he can play through the pain. That creates the kind of lineup decision clubs hate this time of year: do you push an injured hitter back into the leadoff spot, or trust what’s already been working?
On this one, the safer answer is the smarter one. Pederson has not been the best option to lead off against right-handers, and the injury only makes that case stronger.
Even before the hand issue, he was in a rough stretch. From September 4 through September 12, he went 4 for his last 19.
Since the start of August, his average has fallen from a season-high .255 to .235. He has only six home runs since August 1 and has driven in 11 runs.
If the power isn’t there, he isn’t giving Texas the kind of production they need from him anyway.
That’s why handing those at-bats to a healthy Ezequiel Duran, Justin Foscue, or even Cody Freeman makes more sense than forcing a 34-year-old with a fractured lead hand back into action. There’s also the obvious risk factor: if Pederson takes another awkward swing or catches a stinger off the end of the bat, the injury could get worse.
The Rangers have other ways to use the lineup, too. The DH spot could help protect Corey Seager, who has been a major part of Texas’ recent surge with a .296/.365/.503 line since coming off the IL on July 31.
Wyatt Langford could also benefit from some DH days, especially with nagging injuries and a funk that has slowed his bat. More time away from the field might help him at the plate.
Texas is expected to see two quality right-handers this weekend, with Dylan Cease and Jose Soriano on the mound for the Blue Jays. But the split can’t be the only thing driving the decision. Sometimes the best move is the simplest one, and right now that means letting the healthy bats keep rolling.
The Rangers have already won four straight with Pederson out, and they should have made it five if not for a late bullpen breakdown. In a stretch like this, there’s no reason to overthink it. If it’s working, stay with it.
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Rangers Win Raised One Big Question In A Tight Playoff Race
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The larger takeaway for Texas is that the margin for error is still thin even after a victory like this. The Rangers are tied for first in the A.L. West and still in the Wild Card mix, but the game also underscored how quickly an opponent can unravel when a starter loses his command, as Dylan Cease did with six walks before exiting in the third inning. For a club trying to stay in both races, nights like this can matter just as much for what they reveal as for what they add to the standings. [Read more 🡒]
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Amarillo tacked on two more in the ninth against Bryan Magdaleno, even as Dylan Dreilings late home run pulled Frisco within one. The comeback fell short, and with the playoff exit comes the familiar offseason conversation for the Rangers about which prospects have done enough to move up and which still need more time before the organization can sort out the next wave of help. [Read more 🡒]
Sebastian Walcott Just Put A Real Rangers Decision In Play
Sebastian Walcott is getting one more test on the climb through the Rangers system, with the top prospect being moved from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Round Rock after Friscos season ended. Walcott, who came back this spring from internal brace surgery, handled his time in Double-A well enough to earn the late look at the highest minor league level, and hell have the final two days of Round Rocks season to get acclimated.
For Texas, the move does more than just reward a strong year in the minors. It puts Walcott a step closer to the conversation about major league playing time, and it gives the organization another chance to see how he looks against tougher competition before the offseason begins. Even with so little time left on the calendar, these last games can matter when a player is as close to the big leagues as Walcott appears to be. [Read more 🡒]