Texas Rangers: 4 encouraging signs from the Rangers in 2nd half opener

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The fans know all of the numbers by now from that last month before the All-Star break. The team played 30 games in 31 days, had a 12-19 record including a 2-4 record on the road trip that led into the break. The offense was struggling to get hits with runners in scoring position and the pitching staff struggled to keep runs from scoring. The team needed the break so that they could fully recharge their batteries.

It was time to get back to work on Friday night against the Cleveland Guardians. How this team was going to respond was a complete unknown. I would say after a 12-4 win that the team we saw in the first 60 games is still there and is ready to go forward in the second half. There were several encouraging signs from last night's game, but I really want to focus on these four that not only helped them win last night but are good indicators of how the second half is going to play out.

Red-Hot Lowe Summer

The temperatures are boiling hot in and around North Texas and that must mean it is time for the Silver Slugger award-winning Nathaniel Lowe to show up. His first half was far from disappointing, but it was certainly not the Lowe that we saw in the second half for much of last season. It was not the Lowe that won the Silver Slugger award. That all changed on Friday night for Lowe as he looked more like the dominant hitter that Texas needs hitting in that number three hole.

Lowe last night finished 4-4 on the game, with a home run, a double, and two singles. Everything he hit last night had an exit velocity of over 100 mph. That is the Lowe that Texas needs if they are going to be successful. They need Lowe to be aggressive with pitches and spraying the ball with authority from gap to gap. He finished the night like I said with four hits, but also with one RBI and a walk as well. He reached base in all five plate appearances last night and was a driving force for the success of the offense.

The Ranger can drive in runs with runners in scoring position

The Rangers through early June had a batting average of higher than .330 with runners in scoring position(RISP). There was a massive drop in production in that category from June 7th to the All-Star break and they fell to under a .300 batting average on the season. It was really concerning to see Marcus Semien, Lowe, Garcia, and Jung all struggle prior to the break.

That changed in the fourth inning on Friday night. The Rangers were down 4-0 and did not have a hit in the first three innings with RISP. Fans were worried on Twitter that the break had not fixed everything. Lowe got the inning started with a solo home run. Garcia followed with a single. He was moved to second on a fly out from Jung and moved to third on a ground out from Heim. Jankowski was at the plate with a runner on third and two outs. This is a situation Jankowski has excelled in, he had a .341 average with RISP. He came through once again with a single to center to score Garcia and put a crooked number on the board.

That hit seemed to get everyone going. The Rangers finished the game 8-18, scored 12 runs in the game, and had a five-run seventh and a four-run eighth. It was an offensive performance from Texas that was more reminiscent of what the team showed in April and May rather than what we saw prior to the All-Star break. If that is what we are going to see going forward Texas will be in fine shape as far as the division and playoff contention is concerned.

Gray's ability to keep the Guardians off the scoreboard

Some of you will say, that he did allow four runs in this game. Yes, he did, all in the third inning. He gave up home runs to the Naylor brothers, both two-run home runs. It was clear Gray did not have his best stuff last night. He finished his six innings with just three swings and misses on the night.

Gray kept the Rangers in the game. He allowed those four runs and then did not allow another run the rest of the game. His shutdown inning in the fifth was key to the Rangers coming back. They had just scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Gray allowed a single to Amed Rosario and then later intentionally walked Josh Naylor. That put runners on first and second with Andres Gimenez and two outs. Gray struck out Gimenez swinging on a fastball at the top of the zone. Gray did not pick up the win, but he handed a 4-3 deficit to the bullpen and the offense took care of the rest.

Chapman does it again

The Rangers traded for Aroldis Chapman two weeks ago now. It has been interesting to see his process and the results from someone I have normally watched from afar. His stuff is definitely elite across the board. He seems overqualified for the eighth-inning role he pitched in for Kansas CIty and now in Texas. He has the stuff and mentality of a closer. Bochy to this point is staying loyal to Will Smith and not demoting him to an earlier role.

Chapman last night came in to a 8-4 game in the eighth. He entered after the five-run inning and pitched in a less stressful situation. He still did his job though. Chapman faced the bottom third of the order and retired them in order. He was throwing four pitches last night. He got Josh Bell to pop out on a splitter, he retired Will Brennan on an 89mph slider, and then struck out Myles Straw on a 101.8mph sinker. He was just filthy last night.

The Rangers still need probably one more bullpen arm at the deadline, but having Chapman there in the 8th inning will make it much easier to hand leads to Will Smith in the ninth. The one thing that I have been impressed with is his variety of pitches and how well he throws each of them. The innings he pitches are must watch.

What is the Rangers standing?

The Rangers with the win improve to 53-39 and remain two games ahead of Houston. Houston picked up a come-from-behind win against the Los Angeles Angels.

Andrew Heaney starts today for Texas going up against rookie Gavin Williams. The game today is 3:05pm and it will be broadcast by Bally Sports Southwest and Fox Sports 1.