Rangers place in new MLB power rankings foreshadows a surprising and optimistic turning point

The Texas Rangers' 2026 season has been an interesting one as the team has looked to get back into contention, while simultaneously feeling light on firepower at times. There have been a lot of factors at play, from injuries to key players, poor performances, and a maddening inconsistency that has muddied the waters as to what the team's true potential is.

We're just past the 60-game mark, and looking back, the Rangers' performance has left a lot to be desired. At the same time, the recent injury returns of Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford have given Texas a boost. That brings us to the complicated position of where the Rangers lie today.

The latest MLB power rankings from FanSided showcase the crossroads that the club has arrived at. Placing 16th, one could argue that the Rangers are an average-to-below-average team. That might make one believe that they should be sellers at the trade deadline.

As Chris Landers notes in his write-up, plenty of folks were ready to bury the Rangers, but it's not that simple.

"There’s still the outline of a real contender here; the ceiling with a rotation that features Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and MacKenzie Gore is obvious, and with Corey Seager (and soon Wyatt Langford) returning, there’s no reason why this offense should be as bad as it’s been moving forward," Landers wrote.

We saw that on full display, as Jacob deGrom channeled his inner ace, dominating the Cleveland Guardians in the series finale on Sunday, six strikeouts over six shutout innings that cost him just 87 pitches.

That performance in the rubber game marked the third-straight series victory for Texas, and it came against a quality opponent in Cleveland that ranks all the way up at No. 5 in these very same power rankings.

The Rangers are arriving at a turning point that is setting them up as trade deadline buyers

The pitching staff has been a strength for most of the year, and now ranks sixth in MLB with a 3.66 ERA. The more gems from guys like deGrom, the better off they'll be. There's even a world where you can say that the starting rotation, which was the best in the league last year, has yet to realize its full potential in 2026.

The bigger concern has been the offense. The lineup has been wildly inconsistent so far this season, and more often than not has been a net-negative. Injuries have played a role, and as we saw against the Guardians, Seager and Langford returning from the IL can provide a big boost.

Seager had the big go-ahead homer that was set up by Langford's double in the series opener on June 6, and the entire lineup came to life with four dingers, including one from Langford, powering them to a 10-run outburst in support of deGrom.

Skip Schumaker said he believes the reinsertion of Seager and Langford into the lineup will bring forth more consistency, and it's hard to disagree. Josh Jung is making a strong case for an All-Star nod, and the pleasant surprises keep coming as Ezequiel Duran has put together an All-Star-worthy performance in his own right as he looks to lay claim to the second base job permanently.

Add in the strong showing from Joc Pederson and some hope that Brandon Nimmo can turn it around, and suddenly this is a lineup that can be fearsome at the top and in the middle.

That isn't to say that more isn't needed. Evan Carter's defense is great, but he's been a disaster with the bat. Jake Burger has run into a few homers but has been underwhelming overall. Finally, the catching situation has delivered uneven performance with the bat.

A team can afford one, maybe two, weak spots in the order and still contend if there are mitigating factors like strong defensive prowess, but three is where things get tricky. With that said, if the Rangers can add a bat (or two) at the deadline, that might just be enough to get them back into the October dance.

After so much consternation as to whether the club should be buyers or sellers, they're on the brink of providing us clarity, and the way things are going recently, we could see the positive outcome we've all been hoping for.

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