Struggles Against Elite Pitching Continue for Texas Rangers
ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers staggered into Sunday’s series finale vs. the Philadelphia Phillies after three games in a five-day span against a trio of left-handed starting pitchers with favorable odds to win the Cy Young award in their respective leagues.
Their reprieve was one of baseball’s premier right-handers. The difference in outcome — and the way they arrived to it — was negligible at best. Elite pitchers are impossible to escape, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy cautioned, and offered the reminder that good teams are able to produce runs nonetheless.
“If we think we are who we are,” Bochy said, “then we find a way to get those runs.”
Recent Series Loss
The Rangers, through 119 games, are a barely-over-.500 team that’s on the outside of the postseason after a series loss vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at Globe Life Field that featured three identical losses. Sunday’s 4-2 loss vs. All-Star right-hander Zack Wheeler, Saturday’s 3-2 loss vs. left-hander Jesús Luzardo and Friday’s 9-1 loss vs. Cy Young award candidate Cristopher Sánchez were each marred by the same inability to build on quick starts.
“I think it’s kind of a lull right now,” leadoff hitter Josh Smith said Sunday after an 0-for-5 day. “We’ve faced some pretty good pitching, but, we’ve got to do a better job and win those games.”
Struggles Against Elite Pitching
The Rangers have scored the fewest runs in baseball against teams with an above-.500 record this season and, against all pitchers they’ve faced with a 3.00 ERA or better, have not once scored more than four runs. Sunday’s loss included that continuation of a troubling trend in which early offense is followed by zeroes. Bochy officially categorized it as a “funk” Sunday afternoon.
It’s one thing to recognize it. It’s another to escape it. “We changed the lineup today,” Bochy said when asked how, exactly, Texas can break the habit. “We mixed it up, moved guys around a little bit, you try that.”
Attempt to Break the Habit
The attempt was not in vain. The Rangers bumped right fielder Adolis García out of the four-hole and replaced him with designated hitter Joc Pederson. A first-inning two-run home run vs. Wheeler, Pederson’s second this homestand, gave the Rangers an early lead.
The issue continued to lie in the eight innings that followed. The Rangers were shut out in the second through ninth innings Sunday afternoon and went 6 for 25 and advanced just one runner to second base after Pederson’s home run.
Pitching and Defense
Teams on average have a .705 OPS when they face pitchers the first time through a batting order and it increases to .735 and .754 by the second and third trips through. That’s a 0.49-point improvement from the first to the third. The Rangers, who have a .666 OPS against pitchers the first time through the order, do not make a comparable jump when the face starters for a second and third time.
“It’s a pretty simple game,” Bochy said. “You’ve got to get a big hit when you do get guys on base. That’s been missing.”
Pitching and defense, as it has been all season, was not. Left-hander Patrick Corbin allowed three runs in 4⅓ innings and was bailed out in the second inning by a sliding catch from center fielder Wyatt Langford (that he ran 75 feet into right field to snag) and a circus catch one at bat later from García on a shallow pop fly.
The signing helps shore up a lack of catcher depth in the Texas system.
García’s stunning grab was one of multiple impressive defensive plays from the Rangers on Sunday.
Current Standings and Playoff Chances
The Rangers are 2½ games back of the last wild card berth and six-and-a-half games back of the American League West lead with 43 games left to play. They have a 21.9% chance to make the playoffs, according to FanGraphs.
“There’s a bunch of games left,” Corbin said. “We’ve got to start winning some of them.”
Conclusion
The Texas Rangers are struggling to score runs against elite pitching, which has resulted in a series loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite having a strong pitching and defense, the team is unable to capitalize on their opportunities and is currently on the outside of the postseason. With 43 games left to play, the Rangers need to start winning games to improve their chances of making the playoffs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current record of the Texas Rangers?
A: The Texas Rangers are a barely-over-.500 team with a record of 61-58.
Q: Who is the manager of the Texas Rangers?
A: The manager of the Texas Rangers is Bruce Bochy.
Q: What is the Rangers’ chances of making the playoffs?
A: The Rangers have a 21.9% chance to make the playoffs, according to FanGraphs.
Q: How many games are left in the season for the Rangers?
A: The Rangers have 43 games left to play in the season.
Q: Who is the leader in the American League West?
A: The Rangers are six-and-a-half games back of the leader in the American League West.
