Of course all it took was a negative column on the Rangers to make them turn things around. I mean, that’s baseball right? The Rangers have now won a league-leading six ballgames in a row, including a 6-4 rout of the A’s to complete the sweep and bring them within one win of .500.
In striking contrast to the previous analysis, the Rangers have allowed 16 runs to opponents in their last six games, and outscored them every time. Starting pitching has played a big role in the streak, with 5 out of the 6 starters posting quality starts in those games. Matt Bush has also done an excellent job, converting three straight one-run save opportunities. Given the struggles of the closer role at the beginning of the season, it has been refreshing to see Matt instill confidence in Banister when a tight game goes to the 9th.
Offensively, the Rangers have been more patient at the plate. The lack of chased pitches has led to more walks and less strikeouts. For hitters like Rougned Odor and Joey Gallo, walks have come much more frequent than in past seasons and it has paid dividends for the offense. The Rangers have started to look like themselves again, winning their last four games in comeback fashion. “As a team, we believe we can win every game, whether we’re down by a couple runs or just one.”, said shortstop Elvis Andrus. “That’s the best feeling you can have during the season”.
The Rangers have an off day, and then start a series with the Phillies Tuesday.
-Christopher Silvey
Chris is a full-time student and soldier in the United States Army. He has been writing about Rangers baseball since 2014, but is a life-long fan. Follow Chris on twitter @ChrisSilveyMLB to stay updated on posts and Rangers news. You can view advertising opportunities and help Chris by donating to his patreon page- http://Patreon.com/ChrisSilvey
