The Texas Rangers are struggling through a season that’s gone sideways fast. At 41-44 and sitting fourth in the AL West, the 2022 World Series champions are searching for answers in what was supposed to be another contending year.
It started well enough. The Rangers jumped out to a 9-4 start and looked like the same team that hoisted the trophy two seasons ago.
That’s where things went wrong.
The offense has completely stalled since those early days. The same lineup that used to terrorize opposing pitchers has gone cold, and it’s been painful to watch. Big bats stay quiet, rallies die, and the Rangers can’t capitalize when opportunities show up.
What makes this even more maddening is the pitching staff has been quietly excellent all season. From quality starts to a bullpen that’s held leads and kept games close, the Rangers’ arms have done their job. They’re just not getting any help from the other side.
The offense ranks near the bottom of the league in several key categories, and that makes it nearly impossible to compete when games get tight late.
Last night’s 10-6 extra-innings loss to the Baltimore Orioles summed up the whole season. Strong pitching through nine innings, but the offense couldn’t do enough when it mattered.
“Baseball is hard,” veteran second baseman Marcus Semien said after the game. “It’s hard, so we just gotta continue to try and grind out those at-bats and do the best we can. But it’s not always gonna be perfect. We just didn’t do enough.”
You can hear the frustration in his voice, and he’s not alone in that clubhouse.
Now that the All-Star break is approaching, the Rangers are facing some tough decisions. Do they shake up the roster and hope for a spark? Or do they rally around each other and try to rediscover what made them champions?
The pieces are still there, that’s the thing. But if Texas wants another shot at October baseball, it starts with waking up those bats and matching what the pitching staff has been giving them all year. The window isn’t closed yet, but it’s getting tighter every day.
