Every year, you look for a moment where, more or less, the season is over. Back in 2024, it was losing a series at home to the Houston Astros in early August. Ketel Marte had the honors the year prior by hitting a gut-punching home run during a day game. In the present moment, we may have just experienced it.
The Rangers put together two series wins on the previous homestand, setting the road trip up nicely against the Los Angeles A's and A's. Neither of those teams are good at all. Ideally, beating up on continual residents of the AL West basement would have created some separation in the AL Wild Card and maybe even ground on the Houston Astros in the AL West.
Instead, disaster struck. Disaster might even be too light a word. Both the Angels and A's pulled through with series wins, putting the road trip's record at 2-5.
Still, there are a few thoughts from this trip other than "the season is likely over." Let's check them out.
Thought 1 - Time to fasten your seatbelts with starting pitching
Starting pitching has not exactly been a strength this season. Even when Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom are healthy, results are shaky. Now, neither of them appears to be healthy. Eovaldi went on the IL ahead of the Angels series, and deGrom left his start in Anaheim due to tricep tightness. We are still waiting to see what his next move is.
Things are only going to get more turbulent from here.
MacKenzie Gore has pitched okay in recent times. The Rangers have won three straight of his starts. You just never know when a blowup inning is going to come. His ERA is among the worst of qualified pitchers. Roller coaster.
Kumar Rocker is very clearly running out of steam. He has been a roller coaster himself at times, going between really tough outings and looking like a future ace. Rocker has pitched a lot more than in previous years, as his innings total sits at 116. Who knows how much longer the leash on his 2026 season is.
Jack Leiter is the other Opening Day rotation guy. Thankfully, there is positive news surrounding him, as rehab assignments are taking place. Can you count on Leiter to look better than that he's healthy? Maybe the rotation's biggest question moving forward.
Cody Bradford and Jordan Montgomery felt like huge additions at the time. In fairness to Bradford, he is pitching quite well. The length is not always there, which can be expected for somebody in his situation. Montgomery is a different story out of the bullpen, giving up seven runs in just six innings.
Cal Quantrill is the only other guy who has made starts. Depth has been thin ever since the Leiter injury, and it's only getting thinner. Either somebody not capable of being in the Majors is going to eat innings or the bullpen is about to see its workload noticeably increase the final month and a half. Either way, fasten your seatbelts.
Thought 2 - The AL West problem
This season marks a decade since the 2016 AL West title. A division crown has not come home since then, even in 2023 when the Rangers won the World Series. If you remember, a final day loss in Seattle meant the Houston Astros got to pop champagne. Alex Bregman got to say, "I guess we'll never know" when asking himself what would happen if they didn't win the West.
In fact, the Rangers only have one season with a winning record against the division since 2016. Yes, the answer is 2023. Every other year has been a whole bunch of losing vs. Houston, Los Angeles, Oakland/Sacramento, and Seattle. Really, this might be the root behind failing to pull through in recent seasons.
At least there is an excuse when it comes to the Astros. They have been the best American League team in that stretch, continually making the ALCS, and winning two World Series. Losing the Silver Boot Series sucks and needs to change quickly. But on the surface, you can understand.
Everyone else? Not exactly world beaters. In fact, quite the opposite. There are five combined playoff appearances between the other three. Two belong to Seattle and three to the A's. The Mariners last season were the lone team to advance past the ALDS. Two of the A's appearances were losses in the one-game Wild Card.
For a while now, the Angels and A's have been two of the worst teams in baseball. And yet, in an era where the Rangers have been trying to be a good team, they are losing these divisional games. Even if there's a decade of results saying it's going to happen, how something like this road trip makes zero sense.
Sunday's loss in Sacramento put the 2026 record vs. AL West opponents at 18-25. Seven of those wins are against Seattle. Nine games remain (Angels and A's at home, Mariners on the road). A minor miracle will be needed to finish over .500.
Thought 3 - Is it time to start platooning Jake Burger?
Jake Burger might take home the title of most frustrating player of the season. I mean, just look at his Baseball Savant page. His Chase% is in the 16th percentile and Whiff% in the 6th percentile. Burger doesn't walk, and his OBP is under .300 for the year. Just not a winning recipe.
Then, you look at his splits. Most of the bad numbers come when facing a right-handed pitcher. Here's the slashline – .226/.284/674. Just from watching Burger at-bats, righties are able to get him to chase on sliders/sweepers out of the zone pretty consistently. Numbers back up the theory, as he hits .226 against breaking balls vs. RHP and slugs just .376. The offspeed numbers are even worse. .167 batting average (xBA of .142) and .300 slugging (.216 xSLG).
When left-handed pitchers are in there, Burgers is actually a pretty good player. If not close to an elite one. This really came to light during the A's series, where two home runs came off southpaws. In total, he is up to .283/.354/.900. To no surprise, his slugging vs. lefty fastballs, offspeed, and breaking balls are all fantastic.
In an ideal world, Burger is a platoon guy at first base. Similar to the role Justin Foscue has carved out, he is in the lineup vs. lefties and is available off the bench to pinch-hit. Under this current roster construction, that idea is likely not a reality.
Two more years of control remain for Burgers. If he does return to the Rangers, it's not like the contract is all too expensive. Investing in a fellow platoon at first base (Nathaniel Lowe reunion, anyone?) might be the way to go.
Thought 4 - Sebastian Walcott, it's time
For full thoughts on Sebastian Walcott, check out Saturday morning's story. It's the final Hail Mary Chris Young can throw this season to bring some life back into the offense. Because after this road trip, it might as well be dead.
We could get into individual numbers in recent days/weeks, none of which would be pretty. However, simply looking at run production over the last seven games explains the struggles perfectly well.
In total, 18 runs were scored. Against the Angels and A's. The latter has the worst ERA in baseball in a ballpark known for producing runs. And the Angels aren't a whole lot better, sitting 23rd. Magically, their starting rotations and bullpens look pretty good. Makes you put your face in your hands, only to laugh in disgust.
At certain points, the Rangers' offensive half of the inning feels like a formality. A guy or two might get on base but in reality, three outs will be recorded fairly quickly. Weak contact, strikeouts, early foul outs – doesn't matter.
An injection is needed. Tuesday night, it's time.
Singles
- Josh Jung continues to be missed in a big way. His ability to put the ball in play in big moments would have been valuable during this road trip.
- Jacob Latz is not being utilized enough right now. Sure, the closer role is nice. But the opportunities are just not there right now. Would not be opposed to Skip Schumaker bringing Latz in during leverage situations before the 8th/9th inning.
- Hopefully, Danny Jansen returns quite soon. One can hope he provides more offensive production than Austin Wynns.
- Speaking of catchers, Logan O'Hoppe is doing quite well in Round Rock. An OPS of .827 in 13 games with a home run, eight doubles, and 12 RBIs.
Coming Up
Maybe getting back home is what the Rangers need. West Coast trips can be brutal, even for a team that experiences multiple of them every single year. And hey, two teams with losing records come to town during the next homestand.
First up will be the Washington Nationals, who have taken the wrong turn in recent times. Statistically one of the top offenses out there, key pieces are missing. James Wood is on the IL, likely to miss the entire series. Some trade deadline movement hurts the cause too, as Luis Garcia Jr. now plays for the New York Yankees.
Wednesday night should be a fun one (assuming health) as Cade Cavalli faces Jacob deGrom.
Looking at the weekend, not much information is needed. The Rangers just faced off against the Angels. Does playing at Globe Life Field provide different results?
