The Texas Rangers are running out of time to pretend this is just about Josh Jung.
Jung’s absence has clearly hurt the lineup, but the deeper issue is harder to ignore now. The Rangers just got blanked by the Los Angeles Angels, a club with a 4.28 ERA that ranks 21st in pitching staff ERA, and even that matchup exposed how little life there is in Texas’ bats right now. The Rangers have gone 33 straight innings without scoring against the Angels outside of extra innings, and the latest disaster - one hit in a 3-0 loss - was as ugly as it gets.
“If we want to give ourselves a chance to play in October, the bats have to get going, and they know it,” manager Skip Schumaker said after the loss. “This is nothing that they don't know.
There's a bunch of pros in there that have been there before. Again, it's not a lack of care or lack of effort, but we’ve got to start producing here soon.”
That’s the frustrating part for Texas: this wasn’t supposed to be a lineup that folded with one injury. Corey Seager came back and started hitting like the version of himself the Rangers had been missing, even when Jung was healthy and producing. If that kind of boost still isn’t enough to wake up the offense, then the problem is bigger than one missing third baseman.
The numbers back that up. Since Jung went down a month ago, Texas ranks 28th in batting average at .217, 29th in on-base percentage at .288, 28th in slugging at .346 and 28th in OPS at .634. The result is a pitching staff that has had to live on the edge almost every night.
And somehow, the Rangers are still hanging around.
They’re tied with the Cleveland Guardians for the final AL wild card spot and sit just one game behind the Houston Astros in the division race. In a watered-down American League, a trip to October is still on the table.
That’s where things get tricky. This team may be able to squeeze into the postseason, but there’s little evidence it can consistently stand up to top competition.
Texas has had one decent offensive stretch this season, a roughly month-long run from June into July. Outside of that, scoring has been a grind. The lineup has too many holes, and the supporting cast has gone cold all at once.
There was at least some relief on the Jake Burger front after a frightening hit by pitch last night. Burger, one of the club’s best and only right-handed power threats, was struck in the forearm/wrist area by a 95.1 mph sinker, but he stayed in the game.
Still, that only keeps the lineup from sinking even lower. It doesn’t solve the larger issue, which is that this roster has talent but not enough of it, and some of it is getting older. If the Rangers do sneak into the playoffs, it could send the wrong message upstairs.
That’s the danger. A postseason berth might convince Ray Davis and Chris Young that this core is close enough to keep intact, prompting only small tweaks instead of a real push.
But by 2027, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Seager will all be a year older and could be less effective. The farm system is still thin, too, which makes any future reset even tougher.
So yes, the Rangers are still in the race. But if they limp into October playing this way, it may say more about the state of the American League than the strength of Texas. And if the front office reads it the wrong way, that could be the costliest outcome of all.
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 🡒]