What is going on with the Rangers?

To say the Rangers have looked good as of late or even fun to watch would be foolish at the very least. These guys have been comedically bad as of late and it is neccesary to say that change is absolutely needed. That said, the season is still young and the Rangers can make a strong summer push, but it needs to begin right now.

Let’s hone in strictly on the Texas Rangers.

We are officially at the turn of June, and the Rangers find themselves right in the thick of a very chaotic AL West. Sitting at 28-31, the season has been an inconsistent rollercoaster, but a massive three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals to close out May has injected some serious life back into the clubhouse.

Here is a breakdown of where things stand right now and the clear paths to turning this into a postseason run.

📊 The Season Thus Far: The Good & The Bad

The Good: Elite Preventative Pitching

The defining strength of the 2026 Rangers has been their ability to suppress runs. The team boasts a 3.74 ERA, ranking 6th in the entire MLB.  

• The Veteran Stability: Despite past injury concerns, Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi have anchored the rotation, giving the team a fighting chance nearly every time they take the mound.

• The Youth Shockwave: Jack Leiter just put on an absolute masterclass to cap off the May sweep against the Royals, racking up 10 strikeouts in a scoreless, dominant outing. If he has officially turned the corner, the rotation goes from "good" to "lethal."  

• Holding the Division: Despite the sub-.500 record, the AL West is wide open. The division-leading Mariners are only 31-29, leaving Texas just 2.5 games back from the top spot and firmly in the Wild Card conversation.  

The Bad: An Anemic Offense

While the pitching has done its job, the bats have largely gone quiet. The Rangers' lineup currently ranks 24th in MLB in runs scored and 20th in batting average (.235).

• The Core Slump: Hitters like Evan Carter have been stuck in extended slumps, and the lack of consistent, high-impact situational hitting has doomed them in close games.

• Lack of Extra-Base Pop: Outside of a few bright spots—like Josh Jung's multi-hit performances since returning and Ezequiel Duran's recent walk-off heroics—the team has struggled to manufacture big innings, ranking near the bottom of the league in total hits.

📈 What They Can Do Better to Win the AL West

1. Capitalize on the Injured Corps Returning

The Rangers have been piecing things together with stopgaps, but reinforcements are coming. Wyatt Langford has started his rehab assignment in Triple-A and is on track to return soon. Getting him back—and injecting his raw power into the middle of the lineup—is crucial. The coaching staff must slot these returning pieces into positions where they can succeed immediately without pressing too hard.  

2. Commit to Ezequiel Duran

With the offense starving for a spark, manager Skip Schumaker needs to ride the hot hand. Duran has proven he deserves to be an everyday fixture in the lineup, culminating in his first career walk-off hit and a clutch two-run triple against Kansas City. Giving him permanent structural stability in the batting order can help anchor a top-heavy offense.  

3. Attack the Free-Pass Problem

While the pitching staff has a great ERA, they have a tendency to play with fire, ranking 9th-worst in total walks allowed (187). When you aren't scoring a ton of runs, giving up free baserunners shortens your margin for error drastically. The bullpen, spearheaded recently by Jacob Latz locking down saves, needs to attack the zone more aggressively to prevent opposing teams from manufacturing cheap runs.

4. Be Aggressive Before the Trade Deadline

Because the AL West is a logjam where no team has truly separated themselves, Chris Drury and the front office shouldn't wait until late July to make a move. If the offense is still hovering around 24th in runs by mid-June, they need to aggressively target a high-OBP, veteran bat via trade to insulate Jung and Seager.

The Rangers have a prime opportunity to carry the momentum of the Royals sweep right into a fresh month, starting with a crucial road series against the St. Louis Cardinals.