The Texas Rangers have to take care of business on a road trip to Florida before they can move on to the American League Division Series
The Rangers, making their playoff debut for the first time since 2016, must defeat the Tampa Bay Rays twice in order to guarantee a spot past Wild Card weekday. Writing that down makes it easier because Texas’ pitching has been inconsistent for months.
Postseason matchups are typically decided by pitching. When any offense gets hot, it may be very effective. In the competition for first position in the AL East and West, no team was prepared to give up.
With right-hander Tyler Glasnow leading the way, Tampa, who dropped the regular-season series 4–2, has one of the best rotations in baseball. Texas has had financial difficulties, particularly during the All-Star break because of the ongoing injury bug.
Starting Tuesday at 2:08 p.m. CT at Tropicana Field, general manager Chris Young and captain Bruce Bochy will have to choose which of the 26 players should be in the starting lineup for the best-of-three series. Parties may carry up to 13 pitchers on their postseason rosters. For the time being, all spots will be used to determine depth.
Young stated on Monday, “We’ll set our roster tomorrow morning.” We’re now having a lot of talks and analyzing matchups to make a decision, but we have to play with our pitching over the past few days and we lack depth at the starting position. I therefore anticipate that we will carry 13, although that may alter.”
After losing to the Seattle Mariners in the season finale, Bochy has a difficult assignment ahead of him. Texas has mostly utilized three different closers, and the team’s difficulties this season have been attributed to each of them.
Late in games, Aroldis Chapman, Will Smith, and Jose Leclerc need to contain the Rays’ explosive attack. Bochy is responsible for overseeing every detail, including getting ready to go to the ALDS.
With a 47.6 percent (30-of-63) success rate in save opportunities during the regular season, Texas came in dead last. Leclerc dropped a few games that would have prevented the Rangers from traveling to St. Petersburg, Chapman chafed, and Smith struggled.
If Jordan Montgomery keeps controlling the strike zone, he might be able to conserve up arms for Games 2 and 3. Texas’ most reliable pitcher over the last two months has been the trade deadline acquisition from St. Louis, who has a 2.79 ERA in 11 starts.
Just that might take care of some of the problem. Although Dane Dunning and Nathan Eovaldi are the most likely starters for the next two games, the Rangers have not announced their starting lineups.
In the event that the Rangers require an arm for the ninth inning, Leclerc may be their best bet. Throughout September, he has tossed 13 2/3 innings and given up just three earned runs.
This past week, “he’s been huge for us,” Young stated on Monday on 105.3 The Fan. “He has been incredible.” And it’s enjoyable to watch him perform at the top of his game when we need him. That’s what great players do—they come through when the team needs them most.
Bochy is probably going to use Jonathan Hernández, Brock Burke, and Chris Stratton out of the bullpen as well. The Rangers have extended inning relief in Andrew Heaney and Martín Pérez in case the starters stumble.