The Texas Rangers just can’t seem to escape the frustrating middle ground they’ve been stuck in for much of the 2025 season.
In a crucial week before the MLB All-Star break, they managed a 4-3 road record against division rivals Los Angeles and Houston.
Currently sitting at 48-49 and trailing the third and final American League wild card spot by three-and-a-half games, their recent stretch wasn’t poor enough to push them firmly into seller mode ahead of the trade deadline, nor strong enough to launch a confident second-half surge.
It leaned more toward the latter, though, and with only one team—the struggling Tampa Bay Rays—between the Rangers and the Seattle Mariners, the odds favor the Rangers getting hot and making a playoff push.
With a +47 run differential, that’s likely the right approach. The team has been unlucky to hold a losing record and should expect improved outcomes going forward.
So what exactly needs to change? The offense, which has struggled all season, must turn things around.
First, young outfielders Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter need to fully step into leadership roles.
Carter (119 wRC+) and Langford (111 wRC+) rank second and fourth on the team, trailing only Corey Seager and Josh Smith.
These young players have lived up to expectations, and at just 22 and 23 years old, they’ve already proven to be solid major leaguers.
In a season like this, it’s time for them to show star potential by boosting an offense that’s been let down by most veterans.
Speaking of which, the veterans who’ve underperformed must raise their game to ignite a winning streak.
Marcus Semien heated up in June but cooled off in July. Adolis Garcia is showing promise with a .283 average this month but still needs to add more power.
Jonah Heim and Jake Burger have also struggled so far this year.
If Seager holds steady and Langford and Carter improve modestly, then just one veteran stepping up could create a formidable top four in the lineup—backed by a pitching staff that’s been excellent all season.
