Texas Rangers Weekly Report: Losing by a matter of inches
There was so much heartbreak for the Texas Rangers this week, I don't even know where to begin. The Rangers had so many chances to win games this past week if the baseball would have just gone another inch or two. Let's start off with the loss to the 9-8 loss Milwaukee Brewers. If the ball came in just a bit on Seager's bat, that ball would have left the park and the Rangers would have won.
I can't excuse some of the bad pitching performances from the Rangers this past week as well. Let's start off with Rangers relief pitcher Josh Sborz. The Rangers had a nice lead against the Brewers and that all went away when he gave up three earned runs on Friday night. Andrew Heaney looks like the weakest link once Nathan Eovaldi is healthy and ready to come back
Grant Anderson was probably the best relief pitcher this past week only giving up one hit. Max Scherzer hit a very important milestone on Sunday. He recorded his 3,343rd strikeout and passed Phil Niekro for 11th all-time on the strikeout list. These terrible pitching performances can't happen if the Rangers want a chance at winning the American League West and possibly earning themselves a bye in the playoffs.
The Rangers do have a very interesting schedule this upcoming week. They start off on Monday with a two-game series against Corbin Carroll and the Arizona Diamondbacks. They have Wednesday off as they travel up and go up against a very familiar name. They will have a four-game series that will start on Thursday against former Ranger Joey Gallo and the Minnesota Twins.
As I wrap up this portion of the Rangers Weekly Report, we got to talk about the incoming threat to the Texas Rangers. The Seattle Mariners are literally on fire since the trade deadline and they look like the biggest threat now instead of the Houston Astros.
After sweeping the Houston Astros this past weekend, they are three games back of the Rangers and they don't look like they are slowing down. Rangers got to keep their foot on the gas pedal as we start to wrap up August and enter the final month of the season.
Texas Rangers Weekly Report: Who's Hot
Corey Seager
Corey Seager was literally the only offense that the Rangers had this past week. In his last seven games, Seager has eight hits, three home runs, and six RBIs. Seager hit two home runs against the Angels on Tuesday night. Some people need to step it up and be better at the plate because Seager is not going to be able to carry this team on his back to win the division.
Jon Gray
Jon Gray was electric this week and it's too bad that the Rangers couldn't get the win for him after his performance. Gray only allowed one earned run against the Angels in seven innings pitched. He was phenominal getting out of jams in some innings keeping the Rangers within striking distance. It just stinks that the bats couldn't get him the win.
Texas Rangers Weekly Report: Who's not hot
Andrew Heaney
Andrew Heaney is probably earned himself a demotion to the bullpen once Eovaldi is healthy and ready to come back. Heaney couldn't finish four innings against the Brewers allowing seven hits and three earned runs. The Rangers need a solid starting pitching rotation going down the stretch in September and Heaney will most likely be in the bullpen then. They can't have these inconsistant starts from him much longer if they want a division title.
Leody Taveras
I really do think that it's time for a demotion for him to Triple A if he continues to have this drought. Taveras only had three hits this past week striking out eight times and finished the week with a batting average of .111. However, he did have four RBIs which helped us at times but he needs to be better at the plate. At one time this year, he was considered one of the best batters in the ninth slot in the league. That has certainly gone away as the months have gone by.