The 2025 Rangers look nothing like the squad that stormed to an 11-0 postseason road record on their way to a World Series title two years ago.
Now down to just 36 games remaining — roughly 20% of the schedule — the Rangers entered this week needing to do two things they haven’t managed in nearly two years if they hoped to keep their slim playoff chances alive: win away from home and beat teams with winning records. Instead, they came up empty again, dropping a 4-3 game in Kansas City filled with missed chances, close calls, and all-too-familiar storylines.
“This one hurt,” manager Bruce Bochy said afterward, repeating a phrase that’s become routine. “We had some chances. We had some base hits and set up some pretty good situations. We just couldn’t string it together and post a big inning.”
Texas had back-to-back hits in four separate innings — three times with fewer than two outs — but came away with only three runs. One rally was undercut in the second when Joc Pederson tried to tag and score on Josh Smith’s flyout. Replays appeared to show Pederson stomping the plate before the tag, but after a long look, New York’s Replay Center let the out call stand. The inning ended, and so did the Rangers’ momentum.
Down two in the eighth, Wyatt Langford singled and Corey Seager doubled, giving Texas life. But Rowdy Tellez’s groundout plated just one run, and the Royals gladly traded it for an out. Given the Rangers’ offensive struggles over the past two years, it was a gamble Kansas City was wise to make.
That defeat marked the Rangers’ 85th road loss since the start of 2024. Since going undefeated on the road in the 2023 postseason, Texas has posted just a .410 winning percentage (59-85), ranking 26th in MLB over that span. Their struggles against quality opponents have been even worse: Monday’s loss was their 100th against teams at .500 or better in the last two years, giving them a 63-100 (.387) record, also 26th in the league.
Against this backdrop, the Rangers now face a must-win stretch. To avoid rendering the last five weeks irrelevant, they need to take both series this week — one on the road, both against winning clubs. With the Kansas City set being four games, that means they’ll need to go at least 5-2 overall. After the opening loss, that target shrinks to 5-1.
“We need to play like our backs are against the wall — because they are,” president of baseball operations Chris Young said before the series. “When I played, that was when I was at my best. I loved the challenge, the chance to prove people wrong. That’s where we are now. If we can play our best baseball over the next 38 games, there’s great reward for it. But we’ve got to make it happen. We haven’t done that yet.”
For two seasons, though, what the Rangers have done is play a lot of baseball that ends the same way — with the same disappointing results.
