The Texas Rangers have battled through adversity to remain in the AL Wild Card hunt. Sitting at 72-69, they trail the Seattle Mariners by just a game and a half for the final playoff spot. Still, with the regular season winding down, their postseason chances are slipping. Pitching was once their biggest weakness, but that’s no longer the case. Instead, the Rangers are now struggling in an area that used to be one of their greatest strengths.
FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Rangers at +390 to reach the playoffs. Their season is far from over, as they remain close enough to chase down the Mariners. The true challenge lies ahead, though. This weekend, they’ll host the Houston Astros for a three-game series, followed by another three at home against the Milwaukee Brewers. A week later, they’ll head to Houston for yet another critical set with the Astros.
Pitching, once the team’s Achilles’ heel, has turned into one of their greatest strengths. The problem now lies on the other side — the Rangers’ offense has faltered, and hitting has become their biggest weakness.
Hitting is the Rangers’ fatal flaw
The Rangers lost a key clubhouse presence last month when Marcus Semien was placed on the injured list. Even though he was slumping at the plate with a .230 average, 15 homers, 62 RBIs, and 62 runs, his absence still leaves a major void.
The rest of the lineup hasn’t picked up the slack. Josh Smith leads the team with 114 hits but is batting only .256. At first base, Rowdy Tellez (.221) and Jake Burger (.244) have struggled in a platoon role. Wyatt Langford is hitting just .248, while Adolis García, who has been banged up, owns a .235 average.
Corey Seager has been the lone steady bat, producing a .271 average with 21 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 61 runs. But he’s now sidelined indefinitely and may not return this season. Losing their most reliable hitter and top power threat is a major blow, especially for a team already struggling to generate offense.
The power has gone out in Arlington
In 2022, the Rangers ranked 12th in home runs. A year later, they led the league in long balls on their way to a World Series title. But last season they slipped to 18th, and in 2025 their once-reliable power has all but disappeared.
Adolis García, even before his injury, struggled to consistently drive the ball, sitting at 18 homers. Jake Burger has just 12, Rowdy Tellez 15, and Wyatt Langford, despite hitting 21, hasn’t developed into the feared presence the team hoped for. Instead of being a lineup that thrived on power, the Rangers have become one that strikes out far too often.
Their pitching staff should get reinforcements as some arms return from injury, but the offense must improve if they want to stay alive in the playoff hunt. The coming weeks will reveal whether this lineup can deliver when it matters most.
Why hitting will crush the Rangers’ postseason hopes
The Rangers face a grueling stretch of games ahead. While they currently lead the season series against the Astros 4-3, Houston is always a tough matchup. On top of that, the Brewers have been dismantling strong teams recently, making that series another serious hurdle.
Both opponents feature top-tier pitching, which will put even more pressure on Texas’ struggling offense. After this homestand, the Rangers head to Queens to face the Mets before another showdown in Houston. Their first series against non-contenders won’t come until mid-to-late September against the Marlins and Twins — but by then, the damage may already be done.
For the Rangers to stay alive, their bats must wake up. With injuries piling up and consistency issues lingering, that’s easier said than done. This 12-game stretch could define their season. Unless hitters like Wyatt Langford and Adolis García step up and start driving the ball, Texas risks falling out of the playoff race entirely and being left to wonder what might have been.