The Texas Rangers' Rocky Road to Avoiding Infamy
As the 2023 MLB season draws to a close, the Texas Rangers find themselves in a precarious position. They must secure victories in 10 of their final 12 games to avoid a dubious distinction: becoming the first defending World Series champion to finish with a losing record since the 2014 Boston Red Sox, who ended their campaign at 71-91.
Last season, the Rangers were an offensive juggernaut, clinching a postseason berth at Game 161 and averaging an impressive 5.44 runs per game. This year, however, they have struggled mightily, with their runs per game plummeting to 4.15. The team’s OPS+ has also seen a significant drop from 116 last year to a dismal 92 this season.
Struggles at the Plate
Designated hitters have particularly underperformed this season. Compared to their .220/.315/.388 slash line with 26 home runs last year, this season's .200/.263/.309 with just 13 home runs is stark. The diminished output from the DH spot has undeniably contributed to the Rangers’ offensive woes.
Moreover, injuries have plagued the team's key players. Josh Jung missed four months due to a broken wrist, and Travis Jankowski, who ranks fourth in designated hitter starts, has seen limited action. These setbacks have significantly hindered the Rangers’ ability to maintain their offensive rhythm.
Pitching Woes
On the mound, the situation hasn’t been any better. Jacob deGrom made his season debut only on September 13, and Max Scherzer, who missed the season’s beginning due to back surgery, returned on June 23 but was sidelined again in late July with a shoulder issue. Tyler Mahle, who underwent Tommy John surgery last May, managed only three starts before encountering another shoulder problem. Cody Bradford and Nathan Eovaldi also missed significant time with back and groin injuries, respectively.
As Rangers manager Bruce Bochy succinctly put it, "It's been talked about so much, how difficult it is to repeat. There's been a number of reasons why we're not where we want to be. Every season is different, it takes a life of its own, whether guys aren't having their normal years or injuries. Our goal is to finish strong here."
Jon Gray's recurring groin and foot problems, which led him to the injured list three separate times, only compounded the Rangers' pitching woes. The team has had to rely on a continually rotating cast of pitchers, with mixed results.
Glimmers of Hope
Not all is doom and gloom for the Rangers. Evan Carter, who made his MLB debut on September 8 last year, has shown promise. He boasted a .306/.413/.645 slash line in 23 regular-season games and continued his strong performance with a .300/.417/.500 line in the postseason. Similarly, Wyatt Langford, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, has emerged as a potential building block for the future, hitting 11 home runs through 150 games this season.
Chris Young’s contract extension suggests the organization believes in his long-term vision for the team. However, they will have some critical decisions to make in the offseason. Nathan Eovaldi will need a new contract unless he picks up his $20 million player option, and veterans like Andrew Heaney, José Leclerc, and Max Scherzer are all set to enter free agency.
With Kirby Yates at 37 and David Robertson at 39, the Rangers also need to bolster their bullpen with younger arms. The hope, as Young expressed, is that a healthier squad next season and the continued development of young talent can revive the Rangers' fortunes. "I think before the surgery, Tyler was really coming into his own, and a couple of years ago he had a tremendous season. We're excited about where he is in his career with his age, the recovery he's going to make, and the ability to hopefully help our team in the second half of this season and certainly in 2025 as a mid-rotation starter and with upside potential there," Young noted.
As the final games of the season loom, it is a race against time and circumstance for the Rangers to avoid a losing record and set a more hopeful stage for the future. Their ability to weather the storm now could significantly shape their trajectory in the seasons to come.