This upcoming grueling stretch of games could define the Rangers season

The Rangers are about to embark on a journey that will test not only their physical and mental abilities but also their resilience to unknown circumstances.

Tuesday's first pitch in Boston for Texas will kickoff a stretch of 13 games in 13 days and it comes at the worst time of the early season. It will be only 48 hours after the Rangers dismissed offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker and placed outfielder Leody Taveras on waivers.

It will also be the first game with new hitting coach Bret Boone, who was hired Monday evening. Talk about distractions, huh? Now that changes been made, there are really no more excuses if the team doesn't turn the offense on.

Make or break next two weeks for the Texas Rangers

No matter the situation you are in, 13 games in 13 days is a tough stretch. When you add in a bottom five ranked team in most offensive categories and a new hitting coach to the staff, you are in for a journey.

That stretch is then quickly followed with one day off and then nine consecutive games, including a tough three-game set against the New York Yankees in the Bronx.

Just like any other change it takes time for a team and its players to get used to it. Especially when you make a drastic early season change like the Rangers did in dismissing Ecker from the team and hiring a new hitting coach. However, time is not really something they have at the moment.

Sure, we are only 35 games into the season but with the state of the offense the Rangers could find themselves in too deep of a hole to dig out of in the next month if they aren't careful.

It is important noting that Texas does have at least bit of momentum on their side coming off a Sunday win against Seattle where the offense scored 8 runs on 12 hits. They also just got Corey Seager back from the injured list and the team is expected to recall Evan Carter before the opening game against the Red Sox on Tuesday.

Texas will have their work cut out for them though in terms of opponents. While Boston is virtually in the same boat as the Rangers, sitting at 18-18, they also have to face the AL Central leading Detroit Tigers. Then Texas will end their long stretch with four games against in-state rival Houston Astros, which is always an intense battle.

What should fans expect from the Rangers during this transition?

There is honestly really no way to tell. Their new hitting coach is a 3-time All-Star during his playing days but the 56-year-old has never been a hitting coach.

Boone does however have a good relationship with President of Baseball Operations Chris Young and Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who he played for with the San Diego Padres in 2000.

It's hard to tell what exactly a Boone-led offense will look like or even how long it will take for the Rangers to take what he's teaching into practice. I would love to say that the offense will immediately click into full gear, but that's unlikely.

All that being said, this is a tough time to have 13 consecutive games, as well as, playing 26 games in 27 days to close out the month of May.