3 Rangers candidates for the team's first half MVP

Despite a rock bottom offense the Texas Rangers still manage to find themselves in reachable distance of a playoff spot halfway through the regular season.

Partly due to the success of the pitching staff, most notably the starting rotation, but then on occasion the 2023-esque offensive explosions.

Now 90 games into the year at 44-46, Texas is four games out of a Wild Card spot and it's in some ways due to the performance of these three players.

3 Rangers candidates that make best case for team's first half MVP

Bullpen and company

Let’s go against the grain here and do the bullpen effort as a whole. Responsible for a large chunk of the team’s success this year, it feels weird not to propose an out-of-the-box multi-person shared MVP trophy.

Backed by Robert Garcia, Chris Martin, Hoby Milner and Jacob Latz the pen is a strong unit. Milner leads the team in games with 41, while Martin’s 2.20 ERA leads the group. Garcia has been a great addition, providing late-inning work and occasionally a save.

Let’s not forget Latz, who ever since Tyler Mahle went down, has transitioned into a hybrid long-inning reliever and spot starter. In his last seven games, the lefty has a 2.74 ERA in 23 innings of work, including back-to-back games of 5+ innings and 2 or fewer earned runs.

Jacob deGrom

The 37-year-old is of course the top MVP candidate for the Rangers this season. Not only is he the team’s lone All-Star Game representative but he has a strange talent at coming up clutch when the Rangers need him most.

The right-hander leads the team in ERA (2.13), wins (9), strikeouts (100), WHIP (0.89), average against (.191) and innings (101.1). A stark contrast to his recent years, deGrom’s been the one pitcher to remain on the field start after start.

Just looking at his 9-2 record, it’s clear how valuable he is. If not for him Texas would find themselves pretty much out of the postseason conversation.

Josh Smith

In an effort to put in an offense player, Smith is the clear choice. Matter of a fact, he’s probably been the choice all season-long.

Mix in his defensive versatility, the 27-year-old utility man leads the team in six offensive categories. Most notably he has the highest batting average among the team at .283 and an OPS at .345, which is actually top 20 in the American League.

He’ll clearly win the AL Utility Gold Glove and maybe even repeat as the AL Utility Silver Slugger. All that is missing is his first All-Star nod which he is very deserving of.