How the Rangers Stack Up Entering the 2023 MLB Postseason

The Texas Rangers have yet to win the World Series in their history, but could 2023 be the year? The Rangers made the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and Texas will start the playoffs on the road in Tampa after failing to clinch the AL West in Game 162. Here’s an overview of where the Rangers stand as they the 2023 MLB Postseason.

A Look at the Rangers Offense

Much of the groundwork for the 2023 Rangers was actually laid in the winter of 2021 when Texas inked Marcus Semien and Corey Seager to monstrous deals. Thus far, those two have proved to be worth the price.

Semien belted 29 home runs and 100 RBI for the Rangers this season and ended the season on a strong note. Entering play on October 1, Semien belted nine home runs between September 1-30. That was tied for fourth-best in that span, along with Kyle Schwarber and Nelson Velazquez.

Seager did miss time on the IL but was nearly unstoppable when healthy. Seager hit .327 with 33 home runs and 96 RBI and just barely missed out on the American League batting title.

Aside from Semien and Seager, power-hitting outfielder Adolis Garcia hit a career-high 39 home runs and Josh Jung belted 23 in his rookie campaign.

We also need to mention youngster Evan Carter, who the Rangers called up in September after Garcia hit the IL. Carter tore up Double and Triple-A this season and didn’t stop when summoned to Texas. Carter hit .306 with five home runs and 12 RBI over his first 23 MLB games.

All of those pieces helped the Rangers lead the American League in total runs scored (881) this season.

A Look at the Rangers Pitching

The Rangers had themselves a bonanza this past winter in the free agent market. Texas signed Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Andrew Heaney to solidify a rotation that let them down in a lot of ways last season. However, the Rangers pitching staff looks quite different than it did at the beginning of the season.

deGrom pitched excellent in the first month of 2023, but unfortunately succumbed to Tommy John surgery and won’t be a factor for the Rangers. Andrew Heaney averaged over a strikeout an inning but struggled with command in a way we haven’t seen from him since 2017.

Eovaldi proved to be the real deal for the Rangers in what was an All-Star campaign for the righty. However, injuries and a 7.18 ERA in the second half marred what had been a fantastic season for the 33-year-old. Nonetheless, the Rangers will need the stout playoff performer to come through in October.

The Rangers won’t have deGrom, trade deadline acquisition Max Scherzer or Jon Gray for at least the start of the Wild Card round, if not longer. However, Texas will have Jordan Montgomery, who was acquired at the Trade Deadline and sparkled in Texas during the regular season. The left-hander went 4-2 with a 2.79 ERA over 67.2 IP with Texas.

The bullpen for the Rangers could also be characterized as a roller coaster. Left-hander Brock Burke couldn’t replicate his strong 2022 campaign, while Josh Sborz and Will Smith also hit skids. The latter was the Rangers’ closer for much of 2023 but lost it at the end to Aroldis Chapman.

Chapman himself can be erratic, but he did strike out 50 over 29 frames with the Rangers.

How the Rangers Can Win it All

Texas clearly has the offense built to go head-to-head with the best in the Majors. And, the Rangers will head into the MLB Postseason with virtually a clean bill of health among the team’s regulars in the lineup.

Pitching, however, will be the difference-maker for the Rangers.

If you’ve read some of our articles about the postseason-bound teams, that phrase has been used ad nauseam. But the reality is that it’s simply true. Championship teams generally have standout pitching, and many teams that are headed to the playoffs either have injury-riddled staffs or inconsistent arms that will need to be relied upon.

In the Rangers’ case, it’s both. Max Scherzer may be available at some point in the postseason, but Texas can’t hope for that. Jordan Montgomery’s pitched like a top arm, and the Rangers will need him, Eovaldi, and likely Andrew Heaney to get Texas deep into the postseason.