3 Best Case Scenarios for the Texas Rangers

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The Texas Rangers have been on an up-and-down roller coaster these past weeks. Over the past four series, Texas has gone 2-2, as they won matchups against the Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays. However, against the Houston Astros and Cleveland Guardians, Texas was swept.

Now, the Rangers have four series to go. The opponents are the Los Angeles Angels and two clashes with the Seattle Mariners. Not to mention, Texas still has two more games against the Boston Red Sox.

Yet despite the wild up-and-down movement, Texas is one and a half games behind the Astros for the AL West and is tied with the Seattle Mariners for the final wild-card spot. Good news also came the Rangers' way on Monday as Josh Jung and Adolis Garcia returned to the team's starting lineup.

So with the playoffs in sight, what is the best case scenario for the Texas Rangers?

Here are the best alternatives to Texas finishing out the season:

Best Case Scenario #1: Texas Face Tampa Bay

Right now, the MLB playoff race is unpredictable. The Rangers could fall in from the second, fifth, or sixth seed. The less attractive alternative would be missing the playoffs. However, one possible matchup could be facing the Tampa Bay Rays.

Facing Tampa could be an advantage for Texas. This season, the team went 4-2 against the Rays. Two months ago, the Rangers swept Tampa and allowed six runs the entire series.

At the time, Nathan Eovaldi was pitching more than six innings. Yet, the hitting was at full strength.

Now, with Jung and Garcia back, it is safe to say the offensive advantage would still go to Texas. Also, who can forget the team has Evan Carter on the roster.

One final note, the Rays have gone 3-3 over their past six games.

With Texas and Tampa both struggling, it safe to say the Rangers would have a shot at winning the series.

Best Case Scenario #2: Pitching Pulls Through for Texas

The Rangers suffered a blow last week when it was announced Max Scherzer would miss the rest of the season with a right triceps injury. This leaves Texas with a starting rotation that consists of Nathan Eovaldi, Jordan Montgomery, Jon Gray, Dane Dunning. However, the team has yet to announce the permanent fifth man in the starting rotation.

Rookie Cody Bradford took Scherzer's place in the rotation Sunday, but it is uncertain if he is the permanent man for the job. Other options include moving Martin Perez or Andrew Heaney into the starting rotation.

One other hurdle Texas must solve is getting their starting rotation at full strength.

Eovaldi has been limited in how many innings he can pitch. In his last start, he threw 73 pitches in three innings. He had three strikeouts, three walks, and allowed two runs.

If everyone does their part, then Texas has a chance to compete in the playoffs. Last week against Toronto, Montgomery pitched seven innings and threw three strikeouts while allowing four hits. He had a similar performance last night against the Red Sox.

What a start for Jordan Montgomery!

7 IP | 1 R | 5 H | 0 BB | 8 K pic.twitter.com/dgIMgGjdl8
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) September 19, 2023

Best case scenario here is the starting pitching just enough to let the team be competitive.

Best Case Scenario #3: Texas Wins the AL West

It has been seven years since the Texas Rangers won the AL West. Right now, the team seems destined to break the cycle.

Texas currently remains one and a half games behind the Astros and one game ahead of the Mariners for the division.

Texas has two games left against Boston, two series against the Mariners, and one against the Angels. As for Houston, they have two games against the Baltimore Orioles and a series against the Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Mariners.

It all comes down to Seattle. If Texas beats the Mariners on multiple occasions and Houston loses a series to them, then the division should be theirs.

So you're saying there's a chance? Hold on Texas fans. These next two weeks will be entertaining.

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