Texas Rangers: Team Sweeps Kansas City Royals

The Texas Rangers have swept the Kansas City Royals. They’re now on a four-game winning, being their longest winning streak so far this season. Texas is now in third place with a 9-10 record. The team is certainly heading the right direction. However, there’s still a ton of baseball left to play, so Texas should not rush themselves and take it one game at a time. But they need to keep winning.

Overall, an outstanding performance by the pitching corps. The pitching we saw in this series is exactly what the Texas Rangers need. In any case, pitching needs to keep it up. Offense showed improvement. Compared to previous series, the offense was very good. However, they’ve got more holes to fill.

Andrew Cashner was on the mound for game one. He pitched 6.0 innings, allowing just three hits, surrendering no runs, and striking out three batters. A remarkable performance by Cashner, despite not earning the win. He’s making progress and needs to keep it up.

More from Nolan Writin'

• Framework for a potential Max Fried trade to the Texas Rangers
• Early 2023 MLB mock draft has Texas Rangers selecting an Ohtani-lite
• 3 Texas Rangers outfield trade targets not named Bryan Reynolds
• Did Jacob deGrom really mean what he said at his Texas Rangers press conference?
• Where do Texas Rangers prospects Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker stand after the DeGrom signing?

Cole Hamels took the mound in game two, looking to earn his first win this season. He pitched a season-high of 8.0 innings, allowing three hits, surrendering one run, and striking out three hits, thus earning his first win, finishing with a season-high of 107 pitches. Hamels’ performance in this game is exactly what the club needs from him. In any case, he needs to keep it up. It’s too early to be sure, but Hamels may be close to finally re-gaining his form.

Nick Martinez was on the mound for game three. A.J. Griffin, who was originally supposed to start is now on the ten-day D.L. due to an apparent gout in his left ankle. Therefore, Nick Martinez was called from AAA Round Rock. Martinez pitched 7.0, allowing four hits, surrendering one run, and striking out three batters, earning a no-decision. It’s unfortunate he didn’t receive the win, however, his performance is respectable.

Yu Darvish pitched game four. He pitched a season-high eight innings, allowing five hits, surrendering two runs, and striking out eight batters, earning his second win. He’s now 2-2. Not great of a start for his contract year. He’ll need to pitch better to earn more wins to convince the Rangers front office to consider bringing him back for 2018.

Bullpen really put on a show. In game one’s 1-0 Texas victory, the Rangers bullpen allowed only one hit, surrendered no runs, and struck out eleven batters, giving Dario Alvarez. Closing game two, Jeremy Jeffress allowed three hits, surrendered one run, and struck no batters. Matt Bush closed games three and four, allowing one hit, surrendering no runs, and striking out two batters, earning the win in game three, and a save in game four.

Texas’ pitching is currently 18th in the league in allowing hits with 147, tying with the Baltimore Orioles. They’re also eighth in the American League in strike-outs with 143. At the moment, they’re in a tie with the Cleveland Indians in runs allowed with 78.

Texas’ offense finished 28-for-131, striking out a total of 30 times. Not great, but as said earlier, a lot better than in previous series. Scoring on 14 runs in just four games apparently was enough in this series thanks to dominant pitching. However, both sides worked together and they both did their jobs. That’s what leads to victories. Joey Gallo and Robinson Chirinos both homered three times in this series. Seems like Gallo is finally living up to expectations. In any case, he needs to keep it up. Same with Chirinos. Not much from Rougned Odor, Nomar Mazara, Carlos Gomez, and Jonathan Lucroy.

Texas is in a tie with the Miami Marlins for 10th in the league in runs scored with 86 and fifth the American League. They’re 28th in the league in hits and 13th in the American League. The offense is still in a slump.

Next: Texas Rangers: Pitcher Mike Hauschild Heads Back to Houston

Texas starts a three-game series tonight against the Minnesota Twins. Martin Perez steps on the mound tonight. Coming off a surprising sweep, Texas needs to win this series and if necessary, go for the sweep, too. Texas can’t allow Houston to go further and further from them.