Every game is starting to feel like a swing game for the Texas Rangers, and the timing of this week’s series could hardly be better. Texas enters Tuesday at 74-76, sitting one game back of the Houston Astros in the American League West and 1 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Guardians for the final American League Wild Card spot.
That makes the three-game set against the Boston Red Sox a huge one, and the schedule gets even more demanding right after that with three against the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto hasn’t been rolling lately, but the club can still look like a different team when it’s right, and it appears set to get Trey Yesavage back from the IL soon.
After that, though, the path softens. The Rangers will host the NL East’s last-place New York Mets before closing the season with a three-game trip to Minnesota against a struggling Twins club. If Texas can grab at least three wins over the next six games, it should head into that final stretch with some real confidence.
And there’s another break for the Rangers in this Boston series: they won’t have to deal with two of the Red Sox’s better starters. Boston’s projected rotation lines up in a way that gives Texas a real opening in the first two games.
On Tuesday night, the Rangers are set to see left-hander Patrick Sandoval, who carries a 4.80 ERA in the second half. The next night brings left-hander Jake Bennett, who has posted a rough 5.26 ERA since Aug.
- Sandoval is still working his way back after missing a year and a half because of Tommy John surgery, while Bennett has been pushed hard, logging 144 1/3 combined innings between Triple-A and the majors - almost twice his previous career high of 75 1/3.
The finale is the tough one. Texas is expected to run into right-hander Sonny Gray, who is 17-5 with a 2.76 ERA this season. But even with Gray waiting in the last game, the Rangers can at least avoid facing left-hander Ranger Suarez, who has a 0.64 ERA this month, and left-hander Payton Tolle, who is 9-6 with a 3.02 ERA this season.
That matters. Just one of Tolle, Suarez and Gray would have made the Boston series a headache. Getting only Gray in the finale gives Texas a chance to attack the first two games and try to bank wins early.
Payton Tolle has been the 8th-most valuable pitcher in baseball since he was called-up on April 23rd.
Jacob Misiorowski, Chris Sale, Jesus Luzardo, Cristopher Sanchez, Cam Schlittler, Dylan Cease, and Drew Rasmussen are the only names ahead of him.
In Other News...
Rangers Suddenly Have A Cal Quantrill Concern Before Red Sox Series
Cal Quantrills latest start ended with a little more uncertainty than the Rangers probably wanted, as the right-hander felt back tightness toward the end of the outing, according to manager Skip Schumaker. Quantrill said he expects to be ready for his next turn, which is likely set for Saturday, but the timing matters with Boston coming up and Texas still not ready to publicly map out its rotation for the series.
For a Rangers staff that has worked to keep things steady, any hint of discomfort around a projected starter is worth watching closely. The club has not announced its probable pitchers against the Red Sox yet, and Quantrills status adds a small layer of intrigue to a series where the matchup details may end up being shaped by how his body responds over the next couple of days. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Just Got A Tough New Playoff Threat In Toronto
The Rangers head into a three-game series with Toronto starting Friday, and the Blue Jays may be getting a familiar arm back just in time to complicate things. Trey Yesavage is expected to make a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo, putting him on track to rejoin the major league rotation as early as Sunday or Monday next week.
Yesavage has been on the injured list since Aug. 5 with left knee inflammation, but his return would give Toronto another starter with real upside down the stretch. He has gone 5-5 with a 3.65 ERA this season, and if the schedule lines up the way the Blue Jays hope, the Rangers could see him when every game in the race matters a little more. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Burger Gives Rangers Fans A Reason To Be Proud Beyond Baseball
Jake Burger has given Rangers fans another reason to follow him beyond what happens at first base. The club nominated him for the Roberto Clemente Award, Major League Baseballs honor for players whose work off the field reflects the kind of humanitarian impact Clemente himself embodied. For Burger, that recognition centers on his efforts to raise awareness and support for Down syndrome through his charity work, including the Burger Family Foundation and his partnerships with the Rangers.
Burgers nomination puts a brighter spotlight on a side of the game that often gets overshadowed by wins and losses. The award will be handed out during the World Series, with the field of candidates stacked with players doing meaningful work in their communities. For the Rangers, Burgers presence in that group is the kind of story that resonates well past the box score. [Read more 🡒]