6 former Rangers players to watch in the MLB Division Series

While the Texas Rangers are sitting home, the Wild Card Series have wrapped up. The San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs, the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox, and, thankfully, the Chicago White Sox beat the Houston Astros. Now it's time for the Division Series.

Here are the Division Series matchups:

NLDS: Dodgers vs. Braves
NLDS: Brewers vs. Padres
ALDS: Rays vs. Yankees
ALDS: Guardians vs. White Sox

Despite the Rangers' unfortunate fate, there are several former Rangers players to root for as the World Series nears. Let's take a look at which ex-Texas players are on current postseason teams.

6 former Rangers players on playoff teams

RHP Tyler Mahle - Braves

Mahle started for Atlanta in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against Philadelphia. The Braves lost the game, but Mahle still had a strong outing, allowing just one run on six hits and one walk while striking out six over seven innings.

Mahle pitched for Texas in 2024 and 2025. The right-hander made just 19 starts with the Rangers due to injuries. He posted a 2.54 ERA over 99 1/3 innings with Texas.

The Braves acquired Mahle from the San Francisco Giants at this year's trade deadline. He had a 1.99 ERA in 54 1/3 innings across nine starts with the Braves during the regular season. Mahle will be a free agent this offseason.

1B Rowdy Tellez - Braves

The Braves added Tellez to their Wild Card roster after he had just 11 plate appearances with the club. The first baseman slashed .259/.315/.457 with six home runs and 22 RBI in 127 plate appearances across 50 games with Texas last year. He has nine years of big-league experience.

RHP Shawn Armstrong - Guardians

Armstrong, 36, signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Guardians over the winter. The 12-year veteran recorded a 4.58 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 35 1/3 innings out of Cleveland's bullpen this season. Armstrong pitched for the Rangers last season. He posted a strong 2.31 ERA with 74 strikeouts over 74 innings with Texas.

RHP Matt Festa - Guardians

Festa, 33, has spent the past two seasons with the Guardians. He posted a 3.78 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings this year. The right-hander pitched for Texas in 2024. He had a 4.37 ERA over 22 2/3 innings in his brief stint with the Rangers.

C Austin Hedges - Guardians

Hedges had a brief but memorable stint with the Rangers. He appeared in just 16 regular-season games with the club, all in 2023, the year the Rangers won the World Series. He had one plate appearance in the 2023 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hedges hit .247/.325/.377 in 247 plate appearances this season. He is known for his strong defense behind the plate.

1B Nathaniel Lowe - Guardians

I guess we should be rooting for the Guardians in the playoffs! The Guardians acquired Lowe, the Rangers' 2023 World Series starting first baseman, from the Cincinnati Reds at the trade deadline. He posted a strong .820 OPS with 12 homers over 83 games with the Reds. He struggled after joining the Guardians, posting a poor .650 OPS over 43 games.

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