Rangers start 2025 similar to title year, but why does this season feel doomed?

If you are watching the Texas Rangers game after game this season you might not believe what I am about to tell you but the Rangers are still one of the best teams in the league.

After a 3-2 home stand against the two Los Angeles teams, Texas is 13-9 to start the season. Which is eerily similar to their World Series title year where they started the season 14-8 after 22 games.

That all sounds great. The team's record is on a pace that matches their most recent postseason berth. But there are various huge differences between now and 2023, that but a lot of uncertainity in the minds of fans.

If they are only one game off record wise from 2023, why does it feel like this team is among the bottom of the barrel in the league?

Lack of offense is not just a 22 game thing, it happened all 2024 too

In 2023, the Rangers already has five double-digit run games, which they were 5-0 in to start the season. Compare that to this season, the Rangers have no games where they've scored double-digits, with the most being six runs.

If we look at the offensive production from two seasons ago in the months of March and April to kick off the year, Texas already 38 home runs and 174 RBIs in 28 games. So far this season, although it's a slighter smaller sample size of 22 games, Texas only has 22 home runs and 62 RBIs.

On top of the lack of power, which is what the team did so well with in 2023. Texas has multiple players hitting well below .200, with DH Joc Pederson the worst at .065. Jack Burger and Marcus Semien also hitting below that Mendoza line.

As a team, the Rangers are slashing .220/.274/.363 to start the season. This is very much on par with what their 2024 season was. A huge difference maker in that was Texas was hampered by injuries all last year and that caused a big difference in offensive output. Thus far in 2025, health hasn't been a big concern, they are just struggling to hit.

That is not going to cut it if the Rangers are aiming to remain in first. Their offense will have to catch up. If not it will be a second straight disappointing season.

Rangers aren't faring well as expectations continue to grow

It's fair to say that back in 2023 there was very little expectations put on the roster after a sixth straight losing season.

It's also fair to say that after winning the World Series two years ago and following up with a disappointing 2024, fans were expecting that slump to end with a revamped offense this year. Which unfortunately hasn't quite rung true to kick off the season.

As great of a feeling it is to win a World Series, the immense pressure that follows to repeat or get back to that spot and not be labeled as a fluke is something that can overwhelm. It's why there hasn't been a repeat champion since the turn of the century. Its also why the term "World Series hangover" exist.

I believe the Rangers's struggles have a tiny bit to do with the pressure and expectations that they are one of the best teams in the league. But the offense is the biggest reason.

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